The Case of Odintsov in Snezhnogorsk

Case History

In April 2023, a criminal case was initiated against Anatoliy Odintsov, a pensioner from Snezhnogorsk. The Investigative Committee charged him with organizing the activity of an extremist organization because of his faith in Jehovah God. Anatoliy was placed in a pretrial detention center, where he spent about 3 months. The case went to court in July 2025; a month later, the preventive measure was changed to house arrest. The prosecutor requested a fine of 600,000 rubles be imposed on Odintsov, but the court sentenced him to 6 years and 3 months in a penal colony. The decision was announced in May 2026.
Timeline

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    Case initiated Elderly Art. 282.2 (1)

    Senior investigator of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Murmansk Region S. B. Mikheev initiates a criminal case against 65-year-old Anatoly Odintsov. He is accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization.

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    Art. 282.2 (1) Elderly

    Investigator Mikheev makes a decision to bring Odintsov as an accused.

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    Interrogation

    Odintsov's wife is being interrogated. The investigator informs her that her husband is on the federal wanted list, and asks to tell him to appear for interrogation, threatening otherwise to send Anatoly to the pre-trial detention center.

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    Detention center Elderly

    Anatoliy Odintsov is being held in a cell in the pretrial detention center along with five other prisoners.

    He remains cheerful, also due to the significant support provided by letters. He also has a Synodal Bible from the institution's library.

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    Case went to court

    The case goes to the Polyarnyy District Court of the Murmansk Region.

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    Hearing in a court of the first instance

    Anatoliy Odintsov does not plead guilty: "All my actions were completely peaceful. I did not do anything that would indicate the continuation of the activities of any extremist organization."

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    Elderly House arrest

    The court changes the restriction measure for Anatoliy Odintsov: he is released from the pre-trial detention center and transferred to house arrest.

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    Hearing in a court of the first instance Interrogation

    The defendant testifies in court and explains that he is an ordinary believer who did not commit illegal acts. He reminds the court that the RF Supreme Court did not ban his religion or the right to practice his faith and comments on the video recordings and testimonies of witnesses contained in the case materials.

    The believer motions for the expert Larisa Astakhova to be disqualified, as he considers her incompetent and biased. He asks the court to invalidate her conclusion and appoint a new independent expert study.

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    Prosecutor requested punishment Art. 282.2 (1) Elderly

    The prosecutor requests punishment for Anatoliy Odintsov: a fine of 600,000 rubles.

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    Final statement

    Anatoliy Odintsov makes his final statement.

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    First Instance Sentence Deprivation of liberty Elderly Art. 282.2 (1)
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    Transfer of a prisoner

    Anatoliy Odintsov is in pretrial detention center No. 1 for the Murmansk Region.

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    Detention center

    Anatoly Odintsov is held in a three-bed cell with two prisoners. The administration and cellmates treat him with respect. The believer maintains physical shape - every day he does push-ups and goes for a walk. He has the New Testament and the Psalms. Letters from different countries also provide support for the convict.

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