In Smolensk, Two Women of Faith Released After 191 Days of Detention

15 April 2019

Smolensk Region

Photo: Mariya Troshina, Nataliya Sorokina

April 15, 2019, under a court decision in Smolensk, Nataliya Sorokina and Mariya Troshina were transferred to house arrest. The two women from Sychyovka, a small town in the Smolensk region, were released from the courtroom after over six months of imprisonment.

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Case of Sorokina and Troshina in Sychevka

Region:

Smolensk Region

Locality:

Sychevka

Case number:

11807660001000033

Number of the case in court:

1-13/2020 (1-100/2019)

Current stage:

trial in court of first instance

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)

Investigating:

Investigative Department of the Directorate of the FSB for the Smolensk Region

Case initiated:

7 October 2018

Суд:

Сычевский районный суд Смоленской области

`Persons in the case`

Nataliya Sorokina Наталия Сорокина

Mariya Troshina Мария Трошина

`Timeline`

19.09.2018	Возбуждается уголовное дело об участии двух верующих женщин в организации, признанной в России экстремистской.
07.10.2018	Силовики проводят рейд в Сычевке Смоленской области, задерживая Наталию Сорокину и Марию Трошину.
09.10.2018	Обеим женщинам официально предъявлено обвинение, их отправляют в смоленское СИЗО.

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