Sorokin Ivan

In August 2020, in the cities of Yugorsk and Sovetsky, searches were carried out at 9 addresses of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 16 people were taken away for interrogation. The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against Andrey Zhukov and Ivan Sorokin for organizing the activities of an extremist organization because of conversations about the Bible with friends. The believers were placed in a temporary detention facility, and the next day they were released on their own recognizance. A few months later, their accounts were blocked, which became a serious difficulty for the Zhukov family in connection with the birth of their second child. In August 2021, Zhukov and Sorokin were also charged with involvement in the activities of an extremist organization. The case went to court in October of the same year. The prosecution witnesses invited to the hearing stated that the defendants were peace-loving people, and they had not heard any calls for illegal actions from believers. In August 2023, the court fully acquitted Zhukov and Sorokin. After 3 months, the appeal overturned the verdict and sent the case back for a new trial.