Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

In Ivanovo, the First Criminal Case Was Opened Against Jehovah's Witnesses. Their Homes Were Searched

Ivanovo Region

On November 9, 2022, security forces raided the homes of 3 Jehovah's Witnesses in Ivanovo. The believers were interrogated, and a criminal case was initiated under an article for extremism against two of them.

The searches began around 6:00 a.m. According to the 60-year-old believer, law enforcement officers threw him to the floor and handcuffed him, which they later removed. During the investigation, personal notes, a telephone, a memory card and a large amount of money received from the sale of property were seized.

Ivanovo has become the fifth city in the Ivanovo Region where law enforcement officers persecute Jehovah's Witnesses for their religious beliefs.

The case of Solovyov and Others in Ivanovo

Case History
Three residents of Ivanovo were searched in November 2022. The Ministry of Internal Affairs opened a criminal case against Sergei Solovyov for his faith. The investigation considered reading the Bible with fellow believers to be participation in the activities of an extremist organization.
Timeline

Persons in case

Dementev
Yuriy
Solovyev
Sergey

Criminal case

Region:
Ivanovo Region
Locality:
Ivanovo
Suspected of:
"knowingly participated in the activities ... by directly participating in meetings held by the said banned organization, by promoting its activities ... teaching of religion and religious upbringing" (from the decision to initiate criminal proceedings)
Court case number:
12201240014000342
Initiated:
November 2, 2022
Current case stage:
Preliminary investigation
Investigating:
SCh SU of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Ivanovo region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Case History