Photo: Alexander Pryanikov, Venera Dulova, Daria Dulova

Criminal trial

A Criminal Case for Faith Reopened Against the Already Convicted Residents of Karpinsk. A Series of Searches Took Place

Sverdlovsk Region

On March 30, 2020, in Karpinsk, security forces again searched the homes of Venera Dulova and her daughter, Daria, as well as Aleksandr Pryanikov, who received suspended sentences on extremism charges at the end of January. The security forces also invaded the apartment of another family in the city of Volchansk (Sverdlovsk region).

The believers were involved in a new criminal case. Digital media and electronic devices were seized from them. After the searches, law enforcement officers interrogated Aleksandr Pryanikov and his wife, Anastasia, and searched their car.

It is noteworthy that the search warrant was issued by Svetlana Gabbasova, the same judge of the Karpinsky City Court who had previously sentenced Dulov and Pryanikov to suspended sentences; both then and now, investigator Vladimir Sudin initiated a criminal case. In addition to him, investigators A. Spirin and A. Ovchinnikov participated in the searches.

The decision to initiate a new criminal case was signed on February 18, 2020. If the last time believers were accused and found guilty under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (participation in the activities of an extremist organization), then in the framework of a new case under Part 1.1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (involvement in the activities of an extremist organization), three believers are accused of talking about God with residents of Karpinsk. At the same time, witnesses appear in the case, "whose true data is kept secret."

Second Case of Prianikov and Others in Karpinsk

Case History
In February 2020, even before the completion of the hearings in the first case against Aleksandr Pryanikov, Venera and Daria Dulov, the Investigative Committee initiated another one: they were accused of organizing, participating and involving in the activities of an extremist organization. Also involved in the case are Anastasia Pryanikova, Alexandr’s wife, Svetlana Zalyaeva, and her husband Ruslan, who is not one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. For the fact that the Zalyaevs, inviting Pryanikov to visit, discussed evangelical values with their children, the three of them were also accused of “involving minors in a criminal group.” The case went to court in April 2021. In August 2023, the judge returned the case to the prosecutor due to irregularities in the indictment. In October, the appeal upheld this decision.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Sverdlovsk Region
Locality:
Karpinsk
Suspected of:
"On various days he committed [and] ... actions aimed at continuing the unlawful activities of Jehovah's Witnesses in the city of Krasnoturyinsk and expressed in the convening of meetings and the organization of preaching activities" (from the decision to initiate a criminal case).
Court case number:
12002650042000009
Initiated:
February 18, 2020
Current case stage:
Preliminary investigation
Investigating:
SO in Krasnoturinsk SU of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Sverdlovsk Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1.1), 282.2 (1), 150 (4), 282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-3/2023 (1-8/2022; 1-105/2021)
Court:
Карпинский городской суд Свердловской области
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Вера Драницина
Case History