Photo: Raid on believers (Orenburg, May 16, 2018)
Details of the raid on believers in the Orenburg region
Orenburg RegionOn May 16, 2018, 18 searches were carried out in the homes of citizens believed to be Jehovah's Witnesses in 4 settlements of the Orenburg Region. 15 believers were detained, three were sent to a temporary detention facility (IVS). 11 people were found guilty in the criminal case.
- G. Buzuluk. Searches in 5 houses. A written undertaking not to leave was taken from one of the citizens.
- Orenburg. Searches were carried out at 9 addresses, where a total of 25 people live, including small children. 8 people were found guilty in the criminal case. A written undertaking not to leave was taken from 6 people. Three were sent to a temporary detention center, namely 25-year-old Vladislav Kolbanov, 38-year-old Aleksandr Suvorov and 38-year-old Vladimir Kochnev.
- P. Perevolotsky. Searches were carried out in 3 families at 2 addresses, including 25-year-old Boris Andreev, who lives with his wife and 2-year-old child. Andreev was found guilty in the criminal case.
- Sol-Iletsk. There were 2 searches. 44-year-old Anatoly Vichkitov was found accused.
The criminal case was initiated under Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organization and participation in the activities of an extremist organization). Earlier, the Supreme Court of Russia approved the liquidation and prohibition of all Jehovah's Witnesses organizations registered in Russia, but the constitutional right of citizens to freely practice their religion, both individually and in community with others, was not abolished. Law enforcers mistakenly mistake the joint religion of citizens for participation in an extremist organization.