Four Witnesses in Tatarstan Spent Six Months in Jail—and Now Court Returns Their Case to the Prosecutor Because of Falsifications

29 November 2019

Tatarstan

Photo: Vladimir Myakushin, Ilkham Karimov, Aydar Yulmetyev and Konstantin Matrashov

On November 27, 2019, the Naberezhnye Chelny City Court refused to consider the case against Ilkham Karimov, Konstantin Matrashov, Vladimir Myakushin and Aydar Yulmetyev. The court pointed out a significant violation of the law committed in the pre-trial stage and returned the case to the prosecutor of the Republic of Tatarstan.

Update. On February 14, the Tatarstan Supreme Court examined the appeal of the criminal case to the prosecutor and upheld the decision of the lower court.

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Case of Karimov and Others in Naberezhnyye Chelny

Region:

Tatarstan

Locality:

Naberezhnyye Chelny

Case number:

11802920009000256

Number of the case in court:

1-1552/2019

Current stage:

review of case materials by the accused

Suspected of:

according to the investigation he participated in religious services, which is interpreted as organising, participating in and recruiting others into 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)

Article of the Russian Criminal Code:

282.2 (1), 282.2 (1.1), 282.2 (2)

Investigating:

Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee for the Republic of Tatarstan

Case initiated:

25 May 2018

`Persons in the case`

`Timeline`

25.05.2018	В Татарстане следователи возбуждают уголовное дело об участии нескольких человек в богослужениях Свидетелей Иеговы, считая это продолжением деятельности запрещенных в России религиозных организаций.
27.05.2018	В Набережных Челнах проходят рейды и обыски силовиков как минимум в 10 квартирах местных жителей, которых подозревают в исповедании религии Свидетелей Иеговы. Арестованы и заключены под стражу двое: Владимир Мякушин и Константин Матрашов.
29.05.2018	Спустя два дня после рейдов аресту подвергают еще одного молодого человека - Айдара Юльметьева. Суд избирает Ильхаму Каримову меру пресечения в виде заключения под стражу.

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Case of Karimov and Others in Naberezhnyye Chelny

`Persons in the case`

`Aydar` `Yulmetyev`

`Ilkham` `Karimov`

`Konstantin` `Matrashov`

`Vladimir` `Myakushin`

`Timeline`