Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

Searches Carried out at Homes of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vladikavkaz as Part of New Criminal Case for Their Faith. Three Believers Under House Arrest

North Ossetia-Alania

On July 10, 2026, in Vladikavkaz, law enforcement officers conducted searches at several addresses and interrogated 16 Jehovah's Witnesses. Three of them — Khetag Dzhanaev and the couple Zaur and Zarema Tavitov — ended up in a temporary detention facility. On July 12, the court placed them under house arrest.

Searches began early in the morning simultaneously in several homes. One of them lasted more than 10 hours. Electronic and storage devices, including mobile phones and a camera, as well as personal notes, Bibles, and bank cards were seized from the believers.

Update. Law enforcement officers pinned one of those whose home was searched against the wall, twisted his arms behind his back, then forced him face down onto the floor. According to the believer's wife, law enforcement officers stepped on his legs. One of the officers demanded the password for his phone. He refused, after which rough force was used against him in an attempt to unlock his phone using facial recognition.

They are not the first Jehovah's Witnesses in the Republic who have faced criminal prosecution for their faith. Sabina Albegova from Vladikavkaz has been under investigation since October 2025 (her case is already under consideration in court), and since April 2026, Kristina Bazrova is in the same situation.

The Case of Dzhanaev in Vladikavkaz

Case History
In June 2026, the investigator initiated a criminal case against Khetag Dzhanaev for organizing the activity of an extremist organization. In July, law enforcement officers conducted a series of searches in Vladikavkaz, interrogated 16 believers, and then detained three of them and placed them in a temporary detention facility: Khetag Dzhanaev and the couple Zaurbek and Zarema Tavitov. The court chose house arrest as a preventive measure for them.
Timeline

Persons in case

Dzhanaev
Khetag

Criminal case

Region:
North Ossetia-Alania
Locality:
Vladikavkaz
Suspected of:
"undertook active organizational actions... expressed in exercising overall leadership of this organization, convening and conducting meetings, organizing religious talks and meetings for worship at them" (from the ruling on the selection of a preventive measure)
Court case number:
12601900011000186
Initiated:
June 23, 2026
Current case stage:
preliminary investigation
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Case History

The Tavitov Case in Vladikavkaz

Case History
In June 2026, the investigation initiated a criminal case against Zaurbek Tavitov from Vladikavkaz for participating in meetings for worship of Jehovah's Witnesses. In early July, his home was searched. Tavitov and his wife were detained, and two days later the court placed them under house arrest.
Timeline

Persons in case

Tavitov
Zaurbek

Criminal case

Region:
North Ossetia-Alania
Locality:
Vladikavkaz
Suspected of:
"took active steps . . . expressed in participation in meetings, religious speeches and meetings for worship at them" (from the decision to initiate a criminal case)
Court case number:
12601900011000187
Initiated:
June 23, 2026
Current case stage:
preliminary investigation
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Case History

The Case of Tavitova in Vladikavkaz

Case History
A criminal case against a resident of Vladikavkaz, Zarema Tavitova, was initiated in June 2026 under the article on participation in the activities of an extremist organization. After mass searches in July of the same year, Zarema and her husband were detained and placed in an isolation ward. A few days later, the court placed them under house arrest.
Timeline

Persons in case

Tavitova
Zarema

Criminal case

Region:
North Ossetia-Alania
Locality:
Vladikavkaz
Suspected of:
"took active action . . . expressed in participation in meetings, religious speeches and meetings for worship at them" (from the decision to initiate a criminal case)
Court case number:
12601900011000188
Initiated:
June 23, 2026
Current case stage:
preliminary investigation
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Case History
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