Photo: Roman Markin, Viktor Trofimov
After 120 days imprisoned in their own homes, Jehovah's Witnesses Roman Markin and Viktor Trofimov were returned Feb. 7, 2019, to a relatively normal life when the Polyarny District Court (Murmansk Region) refused investigators' request to extend their house arrest.
The Witnesses' house confinement followed searches carried out in the homes of believers and their families dating back to April and November of 2018 in the town of Polyarny. The searches targeted any homes of citizens who are considered Jehovah's Witnesses. Both Markin and Trofimov were held in a detention center, where they spent 176 days each. They were later transferred to house arrest.
The investigation continues. Roman Markin and Viktor Trofimov signed a recognizance agreement