Photo source: blinow61 / depositphotos.com

Photo source: blinow61 / depositphotos.com

Photo source: blinow61 / depositphotos.com

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

Two women arrested for their faith in Smolensk region

Smolensk Region

On October 7, 2018, officers of the FSB Directorate for the Smolensk Region, together with operatives of the Center for Counteracting Extremism and SOBR fighters, conducted a series of searches in the homes of Smolensk residents suspected of practicing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. In the city of Sychevka (Smolensk region), 2 women did not get in touch for the third day: Natalia Sorokina and Maria Troshina. Presumably, they were arrested, because, according to neighbors, they were taken away in an unknown direction by the officers who conducted the search.

It became known that a criminal case was initiated under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (participation in the activities of an extremist community). According to the interpretation of the Smolensk FSB, unidentified persons continued the activities of the "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia", which was liquidated by the court in 2017. On October 2, 2018, Andrey Lantsov, a judge of the Leninsky District Court of Smolensk, issued permits for searches in the homes of citizens whom the FSB considers to be related to the activities of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Law enforcement agencies across the country mistakenly interpret peaceful meetings of believers as "extremist activity." Dozens of human rights activists, as well as the Human Rights Council under the President of the Russian Federation , express concern about the growing religious repression.

Case of Sorokina and Troshina in Sychevka

Case History
Sychevka is a city of compact residence of followers of the Old Believers. Nurse Natalia Sorokina and tour guide Maria Troshina spent more than six months in jail because they believe in Jehovah God and try to live according to the biblical commandments. In 2018, the FSB accused them of “religious hatred” and of “organizing the activities of a banned organization.” At the same time, law enforcement officers cynically mentioned that “the state guarantees the equality of human and civil rights and freedoms, regardless of their attitude to religion.” Natalia’s health deteriorated during the period of her stay in the pre-trial detention center. On April 22, 2021, Arkady Likhachev, judge of the Sychevsky District Court of the Smolensk Region, sentenced the believers to 6 years of suspended imprisonment with a probation period of 3 years. In September 2021, the appellate court upheld this decision.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Smolensk Region
Locality:
Sychevka
Suspected of:
according to the investigation, together with others they conducted religious services, which is interpreted as “organising the activity 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:
11807660001000033
Initiated:
October 7, 2018
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the Directorate of the FSB for the Smolensk Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-2/2021 (1-13/2020; 1-100/2019)
Court:
Сычевский районный суд Смоленской области
Judge:
Аркадий Лихачёв
Case History
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