Mass Searches in Homes of Witnesses in Magadan

The morning of March 20, 2019, for Jehovah's Witnesses in Magadan began with their homes being invaded by FSB officers. At least four residences were known to be searched, but possibly five more houses were searched and their occupants taken to the offices of the Federal Security Service (FSB) for interrogation. According to law enforcement officers, nine new criminal cases were initiated in the city for the Witnesses' belief in God. Earlier, on May 30, 2018, a criminal case was opened in the city and four believers were sent to prison for several months. Now they are under house arrest.

During searches, all electronic devices were seized from citizens: tablets, smartphones, laptops, cameras, all memory cards and flash drives, as well as notebooks and other personal items. The search in the Solntsev family home took place in the presence of their nine-year-old child.

Updated: Nine criminal cases begun against three men and six women on March 20 were merged into one case by the investigation and joined to the case of Puyda and others now being prosecuted in Magadan.