Krasnoyarsk. Photo source: Ninara / CC BY 2.0

Krasnoyarsk. Photo source: Ninara / CC BY 2.0

Krasnoyarsk. Photo source: Ninara / CC BY 2.0

Criminal trial

New criminal cases in Krasnoyarsk. A man and a woman can go to jail for talking about faith on the street

Krasnoyarsk Territory

On October 2, 2019, two criminal cases were initiated against civilians in Krasnoyarsk. According to investigators, Sergey Tolstonozhenko and Tatyana Feruleva carried out "illegal activities of Jehovah's Witnesses." This is how law enforcement officers interpreted a simple conversation at a bus stop.

Both cases were initiated by the senior investigator, Major of Justice R. I. Kurbanov under Part 1.1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The decision to initiate a criminal case notes that both persons "committed actions of an organizational nature aimed at continuing the illegal activities of Jehovah's Witnesses," which was expressed in "involving new members" and "distributing extremist literature and software among the participants of the organization."

During the interrogation, Tatyana Feruleva was offered to conclude a so-called deal with justice - to admit her guilt in the "crime" and expose its other "participants".

Currently, investigations are underway in the Krasnoyarsk Territory against five believers. Anton Ostapenko is still in custody in pre-trial detention center No. 3 in the city of Achinsk. Andrey Stupnikov's case has been going on since July 3, 2018.

Jehovah's Witnesses have nothing to do with extremism. Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation allows "to freely choose, have and disseminate religious and other beliefs and act in accordance with them." Persecuting law-abiding believers for talking about religion is a terrible mistake of law enforcement agencies that distracts them from the fight against real crime.

Case of Tolstonozhenko in Krasnoyarsk

Case History
In the spring of 2018, turner Sergey Tolstonozhenko talked about the Bible with a man whose behavior the believer suspected that he was an informer. In July 2019, officers of the FSB and the Investigative Committee conducted a survey, and in fact a search of the believer’s home with the seizure of personal property. At the same time, they invaded the tutor Tatyana Feruleva against her consent. The Federal Security Service of Russia for the Federal Service of the National Guard of the Russian Federation and the Investigative Committee conducted an inspection in the apartment of gas welder Eduard Belyaev. In October 2019, the Leninsky District Department of Krasnoyarsk opened a criminal case against the believers, accusing them of involving them in the activities of a banned organization. This is how the investigation interpreted a simple conversation at a bus stop. 10 months later, the criminal case was dismissed due to the absence of a crime event.
Timeline

Persons in case

Belyaev
Eduard
Feruleva
Tatyana
Tolstonozhenko
Sergey

Criminal case

Region:
Krasnoyarsk Territory
Locality:
Krasnoyarsk
Suspected of:
According to the investigation he intentionally participated in illegal activities related to involvement of a person in the liquidated religious organization's activities
Court case number:
11902040004000042
Initiated:
October 2, 2019
Current case stage:
Case dismissed
Investigating:
Investigation Office in the city of Krasnoyarsk in Leninskiy Region of the Central Investigation Department of Investigation Committee for Krasnoyarsk region and the Republic of Khakassia
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1.1)
Case History