Biography
In December 2018, in Neftekumsk (Stavropol Territory), three believers were arrested during mass searches in the apartments of civilians. Among them is Shamil Sultanov. What is known about him?
Shamil was born in 1977 in the village of Mahmud-Mekteb, Neftekumsky district. He has an older brother and sister. As a child, he herded sheep and was fond of boxing. He works as a specialist in complex maintenance and repair of buildings. He likes to work in the garden.
In the early 2000s, Shamil became interested in the Bible and its clear teachings. Later he moved to Neftekumsk with his mother. In 2004, he married Elena, who works as a consultant in cosmetics and perfumery. Shamil actively helped in raising a child from his wife's first marriage, took care of his mother and mother-in-law.
Shamil's family and acquaintances are very worried about him. They are surprised that such a kind, caring and humble person is under arrest.
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.
