Bazhenov, Budenchuk and Makhammadiev were released from custody in the courtroom one by one (May 2019)

Bazhenov, Budenchuk and Makhammadiev were released from custody in the courtroom one by one (May 2019)

Bazhenov, Budenchuk and Makhammadiev were released from custody in the courtroom one by one (May 2019)

Criminal Investigation and Trial

Almost a year of believers behind bars has ended in Saratov

Saratov Region

On May 20, 2019, the Frunzensky District Court of Saratov, chaired by Judge Igor Dyuzhakov, released from custody in the courtroom Konstantin Bazhenov, Aleksey Budenchuk and Felix Makhammadiyev, who had been in jail since June 12, 2018. They are still charged under Article 282.2 (1) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organization of extremist activity), but the measure of restraint for them has been changed to a ban on certain actions. They must wear bracelets and cannot leave the house at night, communicate with other defendants in the criminal case, use the telephone and the Internet.

Believers are grateful to the court, which finally realized that there is no reason to keep civilians behind bars just for their religion. In December 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that Jehovah's Witnesses are Christians and the reasons for their persecution are unclear.

Case of Bazhenov and Others in Saratov

Case History
In September 2019, Judge Dmitry Larin immediately sent 6 Saratov residents to prison for a term of 2 to 3.5 years just for reading the Bible, singing songs and praying. Since 2017, security forces have been conducting covert surveillance of believers. In the summer of 2018, their homes were searched with banned literature planted. While the investigation was underway, they had to go to a pre-trial detention center, under house arrest and under recognizance not to leave. A year later, despite the absence of victims in the case, the believers were found guilty. Upon arrival at the Orenburg colony, 5 out of 6 convicted believers were beaten by the staff of the institution. Mahammadiev was hospitalized, and the rest were placed in a punishment cell for a while. Saratov prisoners of conscience have mastered various professions in prison. In May 2020, Mahammadiev and Bazhenov were stripped of their Russian citizenship and, after their release, deported from Russia. All 6 believers have already served their sentences. In September 2022, the cassation court dismissed the complaint, and the verdict and the appellate ruling were unchanged.
Timeline

Persons in case

Bazhenov
Konstantin
Budenchuk
Aleksey
German
Gennadiy
Gridasov
Roman
Makhammadiyev
Feliks
Miretskiy
Aleksey

Criminal case

Region:
Saratov Region
Locality:
Saratov
Suspected of:
according to the investigation, together with others he 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:
11807630001000037
Initiated:
June 9, 2018
Current case stage:
The verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the Directorate of the FSB of Russia for the Saratov Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-333/2019
Case History