Biography
In December 2018, in Neftekumsk (Stavropol Territory), three believers were arrested during mass searches in the apartments of civilians. Among them is Konstantin Samsonov. What is known about him?
Konstantin was born in 1977 in Neftekumsk. He has two siblings. As a child, he was fond of chess, wood carving and computer technology. He graduated with honors from Novocherkassk University, works as a leading systems engineer at the Neftekumsk Central District Hospital.
While still in the 4th grade of school, Konstantin met Svetlana, who later became his wife. Together they began to be interested in spiritual things, studied the Bible. In 2001, the couple had a son, Vyacheslav.
Relatives and friends were shocked by the news of Konstantin's arrest. His retired mother, who is not one of Jehovah's Witnesses, sincerely cannot understand how a person who studies the Bible and does not take up arms can be an "extremist." Konstantin is sorely missed at work in the local hospital, as some types of work could only be performed by him.
Case History
In August 2017, security forces conducted a raid on believers from Neftekumsk during a picnic. More than half of the 18 detained persons were children, the elderly and disabled persons. In December 2018, the FSB initiated a criminal case for extremism. Homes of local believers were searched. Shamil Sultanov, Konstantin Samsonov and Aleksandr Akopov spent about a year in a detention center. The prosecution repeatedly called convicted persons as witnesses. Some of them did not know the defendants. The defense pointed to the fabrication of the case materials. In March 2022, the prosecutor requested 9 years in a penal colony for Samsonov and 8 years each for Akopov and Sultanov. In April 2022, the court sentenced Samsonov to 7.5 years in a penal colony, Akopov and Sultanov each received a fine of 500,000 rubles. Following the results of the appeal, in August 2022, Samsonov paid a fine of 400,000 rubles taking into account the time served in the detention center, while Akopov and Sultanov paid 250,000 rubles each. This decision was upheld by the court of cassation.
