Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

Two 69-Year-Old Jehovah's Witnesses Arrested In Altai Territory. Investigation Charges Them With Extremism

Altai Territory

On June 10, 2026, Yekaterina Lastovskaya, judge of the Slavgorod City Court, placed pensioners Valeriy Firsov from Yarovoye and Viktor Kovalenko from Slavgorod under house arrest. Two days earlier, both men had been detained and, after interrogation, were placed in a temporary detention facility.

Both believers have been charged with organizing the activity of an extremist organization.

Less than a month ago, in this region, Sergey Barsukov and Alik Yeliseyev were sent to prison for 6 years. Apart from them, 12 men are being prosecuted in the Altai Territory for their faith in Jehovah God: 5 are in a penal colony, 3 received suspended sentences, and 2 are performing forced labor. The oldest is 77 years old.

The Case of Firsov and Kovalenko in Slavgorod

Case History
In June 2026, in the cities of Yarovoye and Slavgorod, Altai Territory, officers of the Investigative Committee detained Valeriy Firsov and Viktor Kovalenko, both 69, who practice the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses. They were interrogated as suspects in participating in extremist activity and sent to a temporary detention facility. The following day, they were charged with organizing the activity of an extremist organization. Several months earlier, searches were conducted at the homes of the believers. After their detention, Viktor and Valeriy were placed under house arrest.
Timeline

Persons in case

Firsov
Valeriy
Kovalenko
Viktor

Criminal case

Region:
Altai Territory
Locality:
Slavgorod
Court case number:
12502010019000052
Initiated:
August 18, 2025
Current case stage:
indictment under consideration by the prosecutor
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Case History
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