In Moscow, 3 Believers Sent to Temporary Detention. New Criminal Case Opened Against Jehovah's Witnesses, Raids Took Place

On October 20, 2021, at least 8 home searches took place in different districts of Moscow and one in the Odintsov City District of the Moscow Region. 67-year-old Anatoliy Marunov, 49-year-old Sergey Tolokonnikov and 43-year-old Roman Mareev were detained. At least one criminal case has been opened.

The searches began early in the morning and often lasted an unusually long time, up to 9 hours. Law enforcers were looking for "extremist literature," in particular the Bible, as well as weapons and drugs. Investigative actions were initiated by Christina Moskalets, an investigator for especially important cases of the Department for especially important cases of the Investigative Directorate (previously, Moscow believers had already been searched on her initiative). Interrogations of believers in the new criminal case took place in that location.

The Tolokonnikov family, living in a garden non-profit partnership (SNT) in the village of Solmanovo (Odintsovo urban district of the Moscow region), was invaded by a group of 8 law enforcement officers in masks and camouflage, one of them was armed with a machine gun, at about six in the morning. They tried to enter the apartment under a false pretext, but later directly stated that the police had come. In addition to the spouses, Sergey's 74-year-old mother-in-law was in the house at that time, who did not share his religious views. The security forces seized her pension and social cards. Electronic devices and personal records were seized from believers, as well as money belonging to members of the SNT and intended to pay utility bills.

After a 7-hour search in Odintsovo, law enforcement officers took the Tolokonnikov family to Moscow to search their apartment in the city. Sergey's mother-in-law became ill, and the security officials, having interrogated her right on the bus, allowed her to return home. After the second search, the spouses were taken for interrogation to the Investigative Committee. Sergey was detained and placed in a temporary detention center. His wife was released and told that "it makes no sense to wait for her husband in the next seven years."

The security officials also came to the Marunov family, living in the Khoroshevskiy District of Moscow, at about 6 am. A group of 8 people conducted the search for 9 hours. Various editions of the Bible, personal records, and electronic devices were seized from the family, including from their son, who is not one of Jehovah's Witnesses. All three were taken to the Investigative Committee. After an hour of interrogation, Anatoliy Marunov's wife and son were released, and he himself was detained.

The family of Roman Mareev, living in Vykhino-Zhulebino, was woken up by the security forces at 5 am. The whole group was in civilian clothes, no documents were presented. Entering the apartment, the security forces shouted: "Down on the floor!" After Roman's 71-year-old mother, pointing to the floor, asked: "Right here?" — the security forces allowed her to keep standing.

Roman's elderly father was also at home, who, after two heart attacks and a leg injury, walks on crutches. He and his wife are on disability, so what is happening was a great shock for them. The search lasted 9 hours. During all this time, the security forces did not allow Roman to eat. Digital equipment was seized from the believer, as well as a large amount of money collected to buy a dacha. Law enforcement officers told Roman that a criminal case had been opened against him. He was detained.

Law enforcement officers in uniform and with weapons came to Mikhail Zubkov at 6 am. Having learned there were children in the apartment, the security forces behaved correctly and did not even conduct a search in the children's room. After 5 and a half hours, the spouses were taken for interrogation to the Investigative Committee.

In addition, searches were carried out in the apartments of four women of different ages.

At the moment, five believers are behind bars in Moscow and the Moscow region, and five more are under house arrest. On July 20, 2021, the Moscow Regional Court approved suspended sentences of 2 to 6 years for four believers from the town of Chekhov near Moscow.