Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

Homes of Jehovah's Witnesses were searched in Syktyvkar. Three believers are now behind bars

Komi

On the morning of March 2, 2021, at least 4 families of local believers were searched in Syktyvkar. Four men were detained and placed in a temporary detention center. One of them, 59-year-old Sergei Ushakhin, was later released on recognizance not to leave. The rest are awaiting a court decision.

Update. On March 3, 2021, the court left 42-year-old Aleksandr Kruglyakov in custody for 2 months. 49-year-old Andrey Kharlamov and 53-year-old Aleksandr Ketov were placed under house arrest.

During the searches, Bibles, electronic devices and personal records were confiscated from believers.

The investigative measures took place shortly after the senior investigator of the Department of Internal Affairs of the Investigative Committee of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Komi Republic, Major of Justice Alexander Belov, opened criminal cases against five believers, including one woman. The investigation suspects them of organizing and participating in the activities of a banned organization (parts 1 and 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), considering as extremism peaceful religious meetings at which believers read the Bible, prayed and sang religious songs. Details are being specified.

Case of Kruglyakov and Others in Syktyvkar

Case History
In March 2021, searches were carried out at the homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Syktyvkar. Sergey Ushakhin, Andrey Kharlamov, Aleksandr Ketov and Aleksandr Kruglyakov ended up in a temporary detention facility. The investigation initiated a criminal case against them and Lidiya Nekrasova, accusing the believers of organizing the activities of an extremist organization and participating in it. Sergey, a disabled person of group II, and elderly Lidiya ended up with recognizance agreements. Kharlamov and Ketov were under house arrest, and Kruglyakov was in custody for 2 months. Later, Ketov and Kruglyakov were transferred to a ban on certain actions. After a year of investigation, the case went to court. The charge was drawn up with violations of the law, no facts of extremism were revealed, and the judge returned the case to the prosecutor. In January 2023, it was again in court. After six months of hearings, Sergey Ushakhin’s condition deteriorated sharply, and he died. In November 2025, the court imposed fines on the believers: Nekrasova—300,000, Kruglyakov —470,000, Ketov and Kharlamov—500,000 rubles each.
Timeline

Persons in case

Ketov
Aleksandr
Kharlamov
Andrey
Kruglyakov
Aleksandr
Nekrasova
Lidiya
Ushakhin
Sergey

Criminal case

Region:
Komi
Locality:
Syktyvkar
Suspected of:
«... studying the religious norms of a banned organization by reading poems, watching videos, participating in meetings, meetings of a banned organization."
Court case number:
12002870035000007
Initiated:
March 2, 2021
Current case stage:
verdict did not take effect
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Komi Republic
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1), 282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-3/2025 (1-12/2024; 1-318/2023; 1-483/2022)
Court of First Instance:
Сыктывкарский городской суд Республики Коми
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Евгений Сажин
Case History
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