Homes of Jehovah's Witnesses Searched at Border with Kazakhstan. Case Initiated on Suspicion of Extremism

On February 22, 2025, the homes of two families of Jehovah's Witnesses were searched in the cities of Slavgorod and Yarovoye (Altai Territory). The believers were interrogated and then released.

The investigative measures were carried out as part of a criminal case initiated on December 25, 2024 under Article 282.2(2) of the RF CrC (participating in the activity of an extremist organization). The searches were led by Margarita Chupina, investigator of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Altai Territory. FSB and police officers searched for digital media, mobile devices, computers and religious literature.

The first search began early in the morning in the house of Alik Yeliseyev, 33, and his wife and lasted about 5 hours. Entering the house, the law enforcement officers knocked the man down. Not finding what they were looking for, the law enforcement officers began threatening the believers that they would tear up the floors and smash the wall. Eventually, they seized computers, phones, flash cards, a hard drive and Bibles from the couple.

The house of Sergey Barsukov, 52, and his wife was searched in the afternoon. At the demand of law enforcement officers, the couple handed over electronic devices and two Bibles. They also confiscated their personal notes and letters.

This is already the eighth criminal case against Jehovah's Witnesses in the Altai Territory. Three men were sentenced to prison terms from 3 to 6 years.