The Third Criminal Case for Faith in Kamchatka

On December 2, 2018, in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a group of more than 10 armed law enforcement officers in masks invaded the home of a local resident who was receiving guests in his house that day. All 13 people in the house were suspected of reading the Bible together (officially holding "collective religious speeches and services", "distributing extremist literature", "routine training in the postulates of the religious association Jehovah's Witnesses", "watching videos of a banned religious structure") and taken for interrogation to the investigative department. It became known that a criminal case was initiated against 44-year-old local resident Sergey Ledenev under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organization of the activities of an extremist organization), and a written undertaking not to leave was taken from him.

This is at least the third criminal case for faith initiated in Kamchatka against citizens who are suspected of professing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses.

The case of the Popovs in Vilyuchinsk (Kamchatka Territory) was initiated on July 25, 2018 under Parts 1 and 1.1 of Article 282.2 (organization of the activities of an extremist organization and involvement in the activities of an extremist organization). On July 30, 2018, a series of searches were carried out in the city, Mikhail and Elena Popov were arrested. Later, the measure of restraint was mitigated. Mikhail spent 11 days behind bars, Yelena - 12 days behind bars and under house arrest. The investigation is ongoing.

The case of the Bazhenov spouses and others in Yelizovo (Kamchatka Territory) was initiated on August 17, 2018 under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organization of extremist organization activities). On August 19, 2018, searches were conducted in the city in 4 apartments of citizens who are suspected of professing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. Konstantin Bazhenov and his wife Snezhana, as well as 71-year-old Vera Zolotova, were sent to a temporary detention center. After 2 days in the isolation ward, the women were released. Later, Konstantin Bazhenov was also sent on his own recognizance not to leave (he was released from custody by an appeal decision of the court), having spent 11 days behind bars.

Russian law enforcement officers mistakenly mistake the joint religion of citizens for participation in the activities of an extremist organization. Prominent public figures of Russia, as well as the Human Rights Council under the President of the Russian Federation, have already drawn attention to this problem. Believers insist on their complete innocence.