This person is also involved in another criminal case as well:
Sokolov's case in Voronezh
Updated: April 17, 2024
Name: Sokolov Yevgeniy Yuriyevich
Date of Birth: July 18, 1976
Current status: Defendant
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)
Time spent in prison: 1 day in a temporary detention facility, 140 day in a pre-trial detention
Current restrictions: Prohibition of certain actions

Biography

On July 13, 2020 law enforcement agencies of the Voronezh region held the largest special operation against Jehovah's Witnesses in modern Russia. Among the victims of the actions of the operatives was Yevgeny Sokolov, who was sent after a search in the pre-trial detention center.

Yevgeny was born in 1976 in Prokopievsk (Kemerovo Region). He has two brothers in his family. As a child, he went fishing with his father. He loved to read books.

After school Yevgeny graduated from a mining school. He worked as an underground electrician in a mine, as well as an electrician in a hotel and an evening school. He lived in different cities: Tashtagol, Osinniki, Khanty-Mansiysk, Far East, Saratov and Voronezh regions.

In the early 90's Eugene began to study deeply the Holy Scriptures. He was impressed by the consistency of this ancient book, as well as the accuracy of the prophecies fulfilled, and decided to become a Christian.

In 1995, Eugene married Alesya. They love to spend time together in the countryside and in the mountains.

Family and friends are shocked by Yevgeny's arrest and worried that decent people can go to prison because of their faith in God and reading the Bible.

Case History

In one day, July 13, 2020, 110 searches were carried out in 7 settlements of the Voronezh Region — a record-breaking operation against Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia. Five believers reported torture by the security forces. Ten men aged 24 to 56 years were charged by the Investigative Committee with organizing extremist activities and sent them to prison, where most of them were held for almost 5 months. The events in Voronezh caused a wide public outcry: the EU countries, as well as the United Kingdom and the United States, expressed regret and bewilderment in connection with the incident. The believers themselves do not admit guilt in extremism and emphasize that, as Christians, they respect the authorities and peacefully practice their religion in accordance with constitutional law. Consideration of the case in court began in December 2021. Believers face up to 10 years in prison.