Photo source: SergeMat / depositphotos.com

Photo source: SergeMat / depositphotos.com

Photo source: SergeMat / depositphotos.com

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

Mass Searches and Arrests for Faith in Kamchatka

Kamchatka Territory

On August 1, 2018, Mikhail Popov, a 56-year-old resident of Vilyuchinsk (Kamchatka Territory), was sent to a pre-trial detention center until September 24. His wife, Yelena, has been in a temporary detention facility since July 30, and the court extended her detention for another 72 hours. The spouses are suspected of professing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses.

On the morning of July 30, 2018, in the city of Vilyuchinsk (Kamchatka Territory), dozens of armed FSB officers in balaclavas conducted several searches in the homes and cars of local residents. According to preliminary data, the searches were carried out on the initiative and with the support of the FSB, but the case is being investigated by the investigator of the Investigative Committee for the Kamchatka Territory, Lieutenant Colonel of Justice Viktor Ushakevich. Representatives of the police also participated in operational activities, since one of the law enforcement officers presented a police major's certificate in the name of Sutyagin.

For some time, no one knew about the whereabouts of Mikhail and Elena Popov. Since they still have locked pets, their friends entered their house and found traces of a search. Later it was found out that the Popovs were in a temporary detention center. His appointed lawyer recommended that blankets and warm clothes be handed over to them, which was done.

Russian law enforcement officers mistakenly mistake the joint religion of citizens for participation in the activities of an extremist organization. The Human Rights Council under the President of Russia drew attention to this problem: "Accusations of citizens that they read the Bible together and pray to God are interpreted as "continuation of the activities of an extremist organization." The Council considers that such an interpretation is inconsistent with the legal position of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation ... This cannot but cause concern, since criminal prosecutions and arrests have become systemic."

Such persecution for faith, accompanied by rough searches and arrests of law-abiding citizens, occurs in 7 out of 9 regions of the Far Eastern Federal District.

Case of the Popovs in Vilyuchinsk

Case History
In July 2018, mass searches took place in Kamchatka. Armed FSB officers arrested Mikhail and Yelena Popov from Vilyuchinsk. The couple spent 11 and 5 days in the temporary detention facility, respectively. The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against the Popovs under Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. According to the prosecution, the couple organized the activities of an extremist organization and involved local residents in it. This is how the investigation interpreted participation in worship services and discussion of the Bible with several people who feigned interest in it. The case went to court in September 2019. At one of the hearings, Judge Aleksandr Ishchenko [called] (/en/news/2019/12/1464.html) “extremist statements” a reference to the fact that in World War II Catholics and Protestants from some European countries shot at their fellow believers from other countries. In February 2020, the court softened the article of the charges and imposed fines on the believers: Mikhail 350 thousand rubles, and Yelena 300 thousand rubles. The appeal reduced the amount to 250 thousand rubles each.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Kamchatka Territory
Locality:
Vilyuchinsk
Suspected of:
according to the investigation he participated in religious services, which is interpreted as organising and involving others in the activities of an extremist organisation” (with reference to the decision of the Russian Supreme Court on the liquidation of all 396 registered organisations of Jehovah’s Witnesses)
Court case number:
11802300003000023
Initiated:
July 25, 2018
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the Closed Administrative Territorial Unit of the city of Vilyuchinsk of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Kamchatka Territory
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-95/2019
Case History
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