Photo: Nikolay Kuzichkin

Criminal Investigation and Trial

The Court in Sochi Left 68-Year-Old Nikolay Kuzichkin in Jail. About 70 People Came to Support the Believer

Krasnodar Territory

On January 22, 2020, a court in Sochi left 68-year-old Nikolai Kuzichkin in custody until February 24. This happened despite the fact that in the pre-trial detention center Nikolay is deprived of the opportunity to receive high-quality treatment, his condition is critical.

Before the hearing, Nikolay's friends and acquaintances, about 70 people, including young people, gathered at the courtroom. They came to support their fellow believer, despite the rainy, cold weather. However, the hearings were held behind closed doors.

At the same time, as one of those present at the hearing said, the court staff somewhat softened their attitude towards the listeners of the trial. "The court workers did not drive us away with rude teams from the fence, at which we crowded in order to see up close and support the prisoner during the escort. But this is what they usually did to us in previous courts," said one of the eyewitnesses.

The audience supported Nikolay with applause.

According to a source close to Nikolai's family, the investigator in charge of the case in which Kuzichkin and others are involved also softened his attitude.

"When an elderly woman with epilepsy scolded him a little for summoning him for questioning, he replied to her with something like: 'It wasn't exactly me who called you. There are other interested people." After the interrogation, he helped her stand up and led her arm into the corridor, "says an acquaintance of the Kuzichkins.

Piano tuner Nikolai Kuzichkin has been languishing in jail for more than three months. All this time, his condition worsens.

Case of Kuzichkin and Popov in Sochi

Case History
In October 2019, special services conducted 36 raids in the Krasnodar Territory, during which Nikolay Kuzichkin and Vyacheslav Popov were detained. Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Krasnodar Territory accuses believers of convening and conducting worship services. Judge Nikolay Shevelev decided to detain both men for their convictions. Despite the rapidly deteriorating health, elderly Nikolay Kuzichkin was left in a pre-trial detention center, which was a serious threat to his life for six months. Vyacheslav’s large family was also going through difficult times when the head of the family was in custody and could not take care of his relatives. Judge of the Khostinsky District Court of Sochi, Yuriy Pilipenko, found the believers guilty of organizing the activities of an extremist organization and sentenced Nikolay to imprisonment for 1 year and 1 month, and Vyacheslav — 1 year and 10 months. Since the believers had already served these terms in a pre-trial detention center, they were released on December 18 and 29, 2020, respectively.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Krasnodar Territory
Locality:
Sochi
Suspected of:
по версии следствия, «предприняли действия организационного характера... выражающиеся в созыве, открытии и закрытии собраний, организации религиозных выступлений и богослужений на данных собраниях, координации хода встреч, предложений тем для обсуждения, осуществлении... проповеднической деятельности» (из постановления о возбуждении уголовного дела)
Court case number:
11902030014000040
Initiated:
September 24, 2019
Current case stage:
The verdict entered into force
Investigating:
СУ СК РФ по Краснодарскому краю
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-292/2020
Court:
Хостинский районный суд г. Сочи
Case History