Photo (from left to right): Valentin Osadchuk, Raisa Usanova, Lyubov Galaktionova, Elena Zayshchuk, Nailya Kogay, Nadezhda Anoykina, Nina Purge

Photo (from left to right): Valentin Osadchuk, Raisa Usanova, Lyubov Galaktionova, Elena Zayshchuk, Nailya Kogay, Nadezhda Anoykina, Nina Purge

Photo (from left to right): Valentin Osadchuk, Raisa Usanova, Lyubov Galaktionova, Elena Zayshchuk, Nailya Kogay, Nadezhda Anoykina, Nina Purge

Criminal trial

The court returned to the prosecutor the criminal case against believers from Vladivostok

Primorye Territory

On November 12, 2019, the Leninsky District Court of Vladivostok, chaired by Judge Anton Sklizkov, refused to consider the case of Valentin Osadchuk. The accused in this case are also 6 women, the eldest of whom is 85 years old.

Valentyn Osadchuk was arrested on April 19, 2018. He spent 275 days in jail and 77 days under house arrest. Now the believer is under recognizance not to leave. In April 2019, during the preliminary investigation, the court seized the car and money seized from Valentin during a search in his house. According to the investigation, he and the rest of the defendants participated in worship services, which is interpreted as participation in the activities of an extremist organization. The first preliminary hearing in the case took place on October 14, 2019.

In most cases, the court returns the case to the prosecutor if the indictment is drawn up with significant violations of the law, for example, the charge is not specified.

Case of Osadchuk and Others in Vladivostok

Case History
In April 2018, the Federal Security Service of Russia for the Primorye Territory opened a criminal case against Jehovah’s Witnesses from Vladivostok. Believers were searched. Valentyn Osadchuk spent 9 months in pre-trial detention and 77 days under house arrest. In April 2019, he was accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization, and 6 elderly women — Lyubov Galaktionova, Nailya Kogai, Nina Purga, Nadezhda Anoykina, Raisa Usanova and Yelena Zayshchuk — were accused of participating in it. Soon the case was received by the Leninsky District Court, but a month later the judge returned it to the prosecutor. This decision was upheld twice by the appellate court. Since January 2021, the case has been re-examined in the same court by Maksim Anufriev. With regard to Zayshchuk, the case was suspended due to her advanced age and state of health. In May 2022, the prosecutor requested a sentence of 6.5 years in prison for Valentin Osadchuk, and a 5-year suspended sentence for women. In June, the court sentenced the believers to suspended sentences ranging from 2 to 6 years. In September 2022, the appeal upheld the verdict.
Timeline

Persons in case

Anoykina
Nadezhda
Galaktionova
Lyubov
Kogay
Nailya
Osadchuk
Valentin
Purge
Nina
Usanova
Raisa

Criminal case

Region:
Primorye Territory
Locality:
Vladivostok
Suspected of:
according to the investigation he participated in religious services, which is interpreted as participating in 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:
11807050001000038
Initiated:
April 9, 2018
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the FSB Directorate of Russia for the Primorye Territory
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2), 282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-14/2022 (1-136/2021; 1-414/2019)
Court:
Leninskiy District Court of Vladivostok
Judge:
Maksim Anufriyev
Case History

Case of Zayshchuk in Vladivostok

Case History
In April 2018, the Federal Security Service of Russia for the Primorye Territory opened a criminal case against Jehovah’s Witnesses from Vladivostok. Believers were searched. Valentin Osadchuk spent 9 months in pre-trial detention and 77 days under house arrest. In April 2019, he was accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization, and 6 elderly women—Lyubov Galaktionova, Nailya Kogay, Nina Purge, Nadezhda Anoykina, Raisa Usanova and Yelena Zayshchuk—were accused of participating in it. Soon the case was received by the Leninsky District Court, but a month later the judge returned it to the prosecutor. This decision was upheld twice by the appellate court. Since January 2021, the case has been re-examined in the same court by Maksim Anufriyev. With regard to Zayshchuk, the case was suspended due to her advanced age and state of health.
Timeline

Persons in case

Zayshchuk
Yelena

Criminal case

Region:
Primorye Territory
Locality:
Vladivostok
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, she participated in worship services, which is interpreted as participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Court case number:
11807050001000038
Initiated:
April 9, 2018
Current case stage:
trial in court of first instance
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the FSB Directorate of Russia for the Primorye Territory
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-6/2025 (1-27/2024; 1-150/2023; 1-648/2022; 1-14/2022; 1-136/2021; 1-414/2019)
Case History
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