Case of Shishkin in Prokopyevsk

Case History

In January 2025, a criminal case was initiated against Vasiliy Shishkin from Prokopyevsk under the article on organizing the activities of an extremist organization. The reason for this was his conversations on biblical topics with residents. The house of Vasiliy and his wife Irina was searched; the believers were interrogated at the Investigative Committee department. Vasiliy was placed in a temporary detention facility, and 2 days later he was transferred to house arrest. In December 2025, the case went to court. Soon after, Irina was also prosecuted.
Timeline

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    Case initiated Art. 282.2 (1) Search Interrogation Temporary detention facility

    Early in the morning, Vasily and Irina Shishkin are searched. After that, the believers are taken for interrogation to the Investigative Committee. There, the couple learn that they have been followed for two years, and a wiretapping has been installed in their house.

    A criminal case was opened against Vasiliy under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organization of the activities of an extremist organization), he was detained and placed in a temporary detention facility. Investigative actions are led by the senior investigator of the Investigative Directorate for the city of Prokopyevsk of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Kemerovo Region - Kuzbass Rafig Gambarov.

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    House arrest

    Viktoria Ortner, judge of the Rudnichny District Court of Prokopyevsk, places Shishkin under house arrest.

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    Case went to court

    The case goes to the Rudnichny District Court of Prokopyevsk. It will be considered by Judge Elena Zarubina.

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    Hearing in a court of the first instance

    Listeners are not allowed to the hearings, so those who came to support Vasily Shishkin remain near the courthouse. At the trial, the believer states his attitude to the accusation and declares that he does not admit guilt.

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    Hearing in a court of the first instance Interrogation

    Two witnesses are interrogated at the hearing, one of them is the defendant's brother. He reports that despite their differences in religious views, they maintain good relations, and Vasily did not call for undermining the foundations of the constitutional order or state security.

    The second witness states that he has not heard any negative statements from Shishkin about people of other faiths.

    Another witness - an operational officer - does not appear in court, so his testimony is read out.

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