Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

One of Jehovah's Witnesses Was Detained in Moscow. His Apartment in Kazan Was Searched

Tatarstan

On March 15, 2022, spouses Sergey and Yelena Gromov, Jehovah's Witnesses from Kazan, were detained at Moscow's Vnukovo airport. The 52-year-old believer was taken into custody, his wife was able to get home. The next day, their apartment was searched.

The search took place in the presence of Gromov's wife and daughter. They assume that listening devices were installed in the apartment. It is not known whether a criminal case has been opened, against whom and which body is investigating it. It is expected that Gromov will be transported under escort from Moscow to Kazan.

The courts of Tatarstan are currently hearing another 4 criminal cases against 11 believers, one of them is at the appeal stage.

The news is being supplemented.

The Case of Gromov in Kazan

Case History
In March 2022, FSB officers detained Sergey and Yelena Gromov from Kazan at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow. Turnes out, an FSB investigator initiated a criminal case on the same day for organizing the activity of an extremist organization against Sergey, who practices the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Two secret witnesses participated in the case, one of whom was an FSB officer. The believer was arrested and placed in a temporary detention facility, and 2 days later in a pretrial detention center. Searches were carried out in the apartment of the Gromovs and at two other addresses. Later, he was suspected of violating another article of the Criminal Code – financing extremist activity. In February 2023, the case went to court, and in September of the same year, Gromov was convicted: 6 years and 1 month in a penal colony. In January 2024, the court of appeal upheld this decision, and 10 months later the court of cassation left the verdict unchanged.
Timeline

Persons in case

Gromov
Sergey

Criminal case

Region:
Tatarstan
Locality:
Kazan
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, he continued the activity of a liquidated religious organization by holding religious meetings at his place of residence
Court case number:
12207920001000008
Initiated:
March 15, 2022
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the FSB Directorate of Russia for the Republic of Tatarstan
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1), 282.3 (1)
Court case number:
1-157/2023
Court of First Instance:
Moskovskiy District Court of the City of Kazan
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Alsu Gumirova
Case History
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