RUSSIA: Criminal investigations of 69 Jehovah's Witnesses - list

Since January 2018, law enforcement agencies have been raiding Jehovah's Witness homes across Russia, often involving armed riot police or National Guard troops. These raids are usually led by the Investigative Committee, but the FSB security service and anti-extremism police have also participated.

Consequently, 69 Jehovah's Witnesses – listed below - are under criminal investigation or on trial as of 13 September 2018 (see F18News 13 September 2018 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2412).

Of these, 65 are under investigation as a direct result of the Supreme Court's 20 April 2017 decision (upheld on 17 July 2017) to outlaw the Jehovah's Witness Administrative Centre and its subdivisions as "extremist" and ban all their activities nationwide.

A further four Jehovah's Witnesses were charged with extremism-related offences before the ban came into force. Three of these are already on trial; it is unknown when the fourth will appear in court.

Restrictive measures

After extensive searches of their properties and confiscation of personal belongings, Jehovah's Witnesses are usually taken to a police station or FSB or Investigative Committee office for questioning. Interrogations can last many hours, and sometimes continue through the night. Officers may then release them or hold them at a temporary detention centre for 48 hours. After 48 hours, individuals may be released under travel restrictions or investigators request a court to approve longer-term restrictive measures – house arrest or pre-trial detention.

Travel restrictions may be applied indefinitely, but investigators must renew them every two weeks – when summoned, a suspect or accused person must attend the relevant law enforcement agency to sign another undertaking not to leave the town or district.

A judge may place an individual under house arrest for an initial period of two months, towards the end of which investigators must go back to court to seek an extension. Under house arrest, a person may not leave his or her home (unless under special dispensation to go to hospital or, in some cases, to work), receive visitors, send or receive post, use the telephone, or use the internet.

A judge may place an individual in pre-trial detention also for an initial period of two months, towards the end of which investigators must go back to court to seek an extension.

Individuals may appeal to a higher court to have these restrictive measures lifted or reduced. A new law signed by President Vladimir Putin on 3 July stipulates that one day in pre-trial detention now counts as one and half days in a correctional colony after sentencing (this will be applied retroactively). Previously, custodial sentences were reduced by exactly the length of time a person had served in pre-trial custody.

Investigators have opened criminal cases against these Jehovah's Witnesses under Article 282.2, Part 1 ("Organisation of the activities of a banned extremist organisation") or Part 2 ("Participation in the activities of a banned extremist organisation"), and in a few instances under Article 282.3, Part 1 ("Financing of extremist activity"). If convicted, they could receive lengthy prison sentences or heavy fines. It is unknown when any of their cases will come to court.

Figures

A total of 69 Jehovah's Witnesses have been charged or named as suspects or are currently on trial for extremism-related offences as of 13 September 2018. The majority of these people – 16 women, 49 men – are under investigation for "continuing the activities" of the banned Jehovah's Witness Administrative Centre and its local communities.

As of 13 September 2018, 25 people are in detention (24 men, 1 woman), nine people are under house arrest (all men), and 30 people (13 women, 17 men) are under travel restrictions. One woman has been placed under specific restrictive conditions. Only four people (one woman, three men) are currently thought to be under no restrictions as the cases against them proceed.

Full list

Name, date of birth – date of initial arrest; date of decision to put in detention/under house arrest/under travel restrictions, date to be released; charged/suspect under [Criminal Code Article]; whether or not on Rosfinmonitoring "List of Terrorists and Extremists"

--- 25 in Detention

Ivanovo – Shuya

1) Dmitry Vasilyevich Mikhailov, born 25 October 1977 – arrested on 19 April 2018; detained on 29 May 2018, until 19 October 2018; charged under Article 282.2, Part 2 and Article 282.3, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Kemerovo

2) Sergey Alekseyevich Britvin, born 1965 – arrested on 22 July 2018; detained on 24 July 2018, until 19 September 2018; suspect under Article 282.2, Part 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

3) Vadim Anatolyevich Levchuk, born 1972 – arrested on 22 July 2018; detained on 24 July 2018, until 19 September 2018; suspect under Article 282.2, Part 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Khabarovsk

4) Valery Vasilyevich Moskalenko, born 1967 – arrested on 2 August 2018; detained on 3 August 2018, until at latest 2 October 2018; charged under Article 282.2, Part 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Kostroma

5) Sergey Alekseyevich Rayman, born 1996 – arrested on 25 July 2018; detained on 26 July 2018, until at latest 25 September 2018; charged under Article 282.2, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Krasnoyarsk

6) Andrei Garafetanovich Stupnikov, born 17 September 1973 – arrested on 3 July 2018; detained on 4 July 2018, until 2 October 2018; suspect under Article 282.2, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Magadan

7) Ivan Grigoryevich Puyda, born 5 November 1978 – arrested in Khabarovsk on 30 May 2018; detained in Magadan on 1 June 2018, until 29 September 2018; charged under Article 282.2, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

8) Sergey Liviyevich Yerkin, born 23 June 1953 – arrested on 30 May 2018; detained on 1 June 2018, until 30 September 2018; suspect under Article 282.2, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

9) Yevgeny Anatolyevich Zyablov, born 9 March 1977 – arrested on 30 May 2018; detained on 1 June 2018, until 29 September 2018; suspect under Article 282.2, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Murmansk – Polyarny

10) Roman Nikolayevich Markin, born 18 March 1974 – arrested on 18 April 2018; detained no later than 20 April 2018, until 11 October 2018; charged under Article 282.2, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

11) Viktor Fyodorovich Trofimov, born 26 March 1957 – arrested on 18 April 2018; detained no later than 20 April 2018, until 12 October 2018; charged under Article 282.2, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Omsk

12) Anastasiya Andreyevna Polyakova, born 25 May 1984 – arrested on 4 July 2018; detained on 6 July 2018, until 20 September 2018; charged under Article 282.2 Part 2; added to Rosfinmonitoring List on 15 August 2018

13) Sergei Valeryevich Polyakov, 28 April 1972 – arrested on 4 July 2018; detained on 6 July 2018, until 20 September 2018; charged under Article 282.2 Part 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List; added to Rosfinmonitoring List on 15 August 2018

Oryol

14) Dennis Ole Christensen, born 18 December 1972 – arrested on 25 May 2017; detained on 26 May 2017, until 1 November 2018; currently on trial under Article 282.2 Part 1; added to Rosfinmonitoring List on 27 March 2018

Penza

15) Vladimir Aleksandrovich Alushkin, born 30 June 1964 – arrested on 15 July 2018; detained on 17 July 2018, until 14 September 2018; charged under Article 282.2, Part 1; added to Rosfinmonitoring List on 6 September 2018

Primorye – Vladivostok

16) Valentin Pavlovich Osadchuk, born 15 March 1976 – arrested on 19 April 2018; detained on 23 April 2018, until 20 September 2018; charged under Article 282.2 Part 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

17) Dmitry Viktorovich Barmakin, born 1974 – arrested in Nakhodka on 28 July 2018; detained on 30 July 2018, until 27 September 2018; charged under Article 282.2, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Saratov

18) Konstantin Viktorovich Bazhenov, born 10 May 1975 – arrested on 12 June 2018; detained on 14 June 2018, until 12 December 2018; charged under Article 282.2 Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

19) Aleksey Vladimirovich Budenchuk, born 27 July 1982 – arrested on 12 June 2018; detained on 14 June 2018, until 12 December 2018; charged under Article 282.2 Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

20) Feliks Khasanovich Makhammadiev, born 14 December 1984 – arrested on 12 June 2018; detained on 14 June 2018, until 12 December 2018; charged under Article 282.2 Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Tatarstan – Naberezhnyye Chelny

21) Ilkham Shamilyevich Karimov, born 9 February 1981 – arrested on 27 May; detained on 29 May 2018, until 25 September 2018; charged under Article 282.2, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

22) Konstantin Viktorovich Matrashov, born 22 August 1988 arrested on 27 May; detained on 29 May 2018, until 25 September 2018; charged under Article 282.2, Part 1 (and 1.1 and 2?); not on Rosfinmonitoring List

23) Vladimir Nikolayevich Myakushin, born 6 November 1987 – arrested on 27 May; detained on 29 May 2018, until 25 September 2018; charged under Article 282.2, Part 1 (and 1.1 and 2?); not on Rosfinmonitoring List

24) Aydar Maratovich Yulmetyev, born August 1993 – arrested on 29 May; detained on 31 May 2018, until 25 September 2018; charged under Article 282.2, Part 1 (and 1.1 and 2?); not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Tomsk

25) Sergey Gennadyevich Klimov, born 26 March 1970 – arrested on 3 June 2018; detained on 5 June 2018, until 31 October 2018; charged under Article 282.2, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

--- 9 under House Arrest

Bashkortostan – Ufa

1) Anatoly Sergeyevich Vilitkevich, born 15 September 1986 – arrested on 10 April 2018; detained on 12 April 2018 and released on appeal on 21 June 2018; unknown when house arrest due to end; charged under Article 282.2, Part 2; added to Rosfinmonitoring List on 7 July 2018

Magadan

2) Konstantin Nikolayevich Petrov, born 9 August 1986 – arrested on 30 May 2018; detained on 1 June 2018, until 29 July 2018; released from detention on appeal on 3 August and placed under house arrest; ; unknown when house arrest due to end; suspect under Article 282.2, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Orenburg

3) Vladislav Sergeyevich Kolbanov, born 27 November 1992 – arrested on 16 May 2018; put under house arrest on 19 May 2018; unknown when house arrest due to end; charged under Article 282.3, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

4) Aleksandr Gennadyevich Suvorov, born 20 April 1980 – arrested on 16 May; detained on 19 May, 2018, until 14 July 2018; released from detention on 3 August and placed under house arrest; unknown when house arrest due to end; charged under Article 282.2, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

5) Vladimir Yuryevich Kochnev, born 15 October 1979 – arrested on 16 May; detained on 19 May, 2018, until 14 July 2018 released from detention on 3 August and placed under house arrest; unknown when house arrest due to end; charged under Article 282.2, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Penza

6) Vladimir Aleksandrovich Kulyasov, born 17 April 1974 – arrested on 15 July 2018 and detained for 48 hours; put under house arrest on 17 July 2018; unknown when house arrest will end; charged under Article 282.2, Part 2; added to Rosfinmonitoring List on 6 September 2018

7) Andrei Aleksandrovich Magliv, born 20 June 1984 – arrested on 15 July 2018 and detained for 48 hours; put under house arrest on 17 July 2018; unknown when house arrest will end; charged under Article 282.2, Part 2; added to Rosfinmonitoring List on 6 September 2018

8) Denis Vladimirovich Timoshin, born 23 March 1980 – arrested on 15 July 2018 and detained for 48 hours; put under house arrest on 17 July 2018; unknown when house arrest will end; charged under Article 282.2, Part 2; added to Rosfinmonitoring List on 6 September 2018

Perm

9) Aleksandr Vasilyevich Solovyov, born 13 February 1970 – arrested on 22 May 2018; put under house arrest on 24 May 2018; unknown when house arrest due to end; charged under Article 282.2, Part 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

--- 30 under Travel Restrictions

Amur

1) Dmitry Mikhailovich Golik, born 26 March 1987 – arrested on 20 July 2018; unknown if detained for 48 hours or when placed under travel restrictions; charged under Article 282.2, Part 2; added to Rosfinmonitoring List on 30 August 2018

Belgorod

2) Anatoly Aleksandrovich Shalyapin, born 21 January 1994 – arrested on 7 February 2018; released under travel restrictions on 10 February 2018; suspect under Article 282.2, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Ivanovo – Shuya

3) Aleksey A., date of birth unknown – arrested 26 June 2018, unknown if detained for 48 hours; put under travel restrictions on unknown date; charged under Article 282.2, Part 2; unknown if on Rosfinmonitoring List

4) Yelena Valentinovna Mikhailova, born 9 August 1983 – arrested 29 May 2018 but not detained; put under travel restrictions on 22 June 2018; charged under Article 282.2 Part 2 and Article 282.3, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

5) Svetlana P., date of birth unknown – arrested on 26 June 2018, unknown if detained for 48 hours; put under travel restrictions on unknown date; unknown if charged or still suspect, under Article 282.2 Part 1 and Article 282.3 Part 1; unknown if on Rosfinmonitoring List

6) Svetlana Yuryevna Shishina, born 16 November 1975 – arrested 29 May 2018 but not detained; put under travel restrictions on 22 June 2018; charged under Article 282.2 Part 2 and Article 282.3, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Jewish Autonomous Region – Birobidzhan

7) Alam Abdulaziz ogly Aliyev, born 14 January 1963 – arrested on 17 May 2018; detained on 18 May 2018 but released on appeal on 25 May 2018 and placed under travel restrictions; charged under Article 282.2, Part 1; added to Rosfinmonitoring List between 17 May and 13 June 2018

Kabardino-Balkariya – Maysky

8) Yury Viktorovich Zalipayev, born 8 October 1962 – case opened in August 2017; put under travel restrictions on 24 April 2018; currently on trial under Article 280, Part 1 and Article 282, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Kabardino-Balkariya – Prokhladny

9) Arkadya Akopovich Akopyan, born 28 May 1948 – put under travel restrictions on 3 May 2017; currently on trial under Article 282, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Kamchatka – Yelizovo

10) Snezhana Yevgenyevna Bazhenova, born 1977 – arrested on 19 August 2018 and detained for 48 hours; put under travel restrictions on 21 August 2018; charged under Article 282.2, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

11) Vera Ivanovna Zolotova, born 1946 – arrested on 19 August 2018 and detained for 48 hours; put under travel restrictions on 21 August 2018; charged under Article 282.2, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Orenburg

12) Pavel Aleksandrovich Lekontsev, born 5 July 1981 – arrested 16 May 2018 but not detained; put under travel restrictions on 16 May 2018; charged under Article 282.2 Part 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

13) Sergey Viktorovich Logunov, born 28 November 1962 – arrested 16 May 2018 but not detained; put under travel restrictions on 16 May 2018; charged under Article 282.2, Part 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

14) Aleksey Nikolayevich Matveyev, born 23 April 1983 – arrested 16 May 2018 but not detained; put under travel restrictions on 16 May 2018; charged under Article 282.2, Part 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

15) Olga Timofeyevna Sandu, born 31 March 1984 – arrested 16 May 2018 but not detained; put under travel restrictions on 16 May 2018 but has since left Russia; charged under Article 282.2 Part 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

16) Fail Samigullovich Shangareyev, born 16 December 1960 – arrested 16 May 2018 but not detained; put under travel restrictions on 16 May 2018 but has since left Russia; charged under Article 282.2, Part 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

17) Nikolay Nikolayevich Zhugin, born 14 February 1976 – arrested 16 May 2018 but not detained; put under travel restrictions on 16 May 2018; charged under Article 282.2 Part 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Oryol

18) Sergei Vladimirovich Skrynnikov, born 30 October 1962 – arrested 25 May 2017 but not detained beyond 48 hours; put under travel restrictions on 13 March 2018; charged under Article 282.2, Part 2; added to Rosfinmonitoring List on 27 March 2018

Vladivostok, Primorye

19) Nailya Sunatovna Kogay, born 5 October 1951 – arrested on 19 April 2018; put under travel restrictions on 19 April; charged under Article 282.2, Part 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

20) Lyubov Aleksandrovna Galaktionova, born 1947 – arrested on 19 April 2018; put under travel restrictions on 19 April; charged under Article 282.2, Part 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

21) Nina Ivanovna Purge, born 19 June 1940 – arrested on 19 April 2018; put under travel restrictions on 19 April; charged under Article 282.2, Part 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

22) Raisa Mikhailovna Usanova, born 28 September 1947 – arrested on 19 April 2018; put under travel restrictions on 19 April; charged under Article 282.2, Part 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

23) Yelena Viktorovna Zayshchuk, born 25 August 1934 – arrested on 19 April 2018; put under travel restrictions on 19 April; charged under Article 282.2, Part 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Pskov

24) Gennady Valerianovich Shpakovsky, born 6 October 1958 – arrested on 3 June 2018; put under travel restrictions on unknown date; suspect under Article 282.2, Part 1; added to Rosfinmonitoring List on 6 July 2018

Sakha-Yakutiya – Lensk

25) Igor Nikolayevich Ivashin, born 16 April 1976 – arrested on 30 June or 1 July; put under travel restrictions on 2 July; suspect under unknown Article; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Saratov

26) Gennady Vasilyevich German, born 12 June 1969 – arrested on 12 June 2018 but not detained beyond 48 hours; put under travel restrictions on 14 June 2018; suspect under Article 282.2, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

27) Roman Aleksandrovich Gridasov, born 16 September 1978 – arrested on 12 June 2018 but not detained beyond 48 hours; put under travel restrictions on 14 June 2018; suspect under Article 282.2, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

28) Aleksey Petrovich Miretsky, born 14 December 1975 – arrested on 12 June 2018 but not detained beyond 48 hours; put under travel restrictions on 14 June 2018; suspect under Article 282.2, Part 1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Tatarstan – Naberezhnyye Chelny

29) Zinaida Viktorovna Soldatova, born 2 April 1967 – arrested on 27 March 2018 but not detained; put under travel restrictions on 12 June 2018; suspect under Article 282.2, Parts 1, 1.1, and 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

30) Valentina Ivanovna Stepkina, born 18 January 1951 – arrested on 27 March 2018 but not detained; put under travel restrictions on 6 June 2018; suspect under Article 282.2 Parts 1, 1.1, and 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

--- 1 under Specific Restrictions

Kostroma

1) Valeriya Aleksandrovna Rayman, born 1993 – arrested on 25 July 2018 and detained for 48 hours; released on 27 July 2018 but not allowed to; go out at night; use the internet, telephone, or postal service; or talk to anybody else involved in the case; charged under Article 282.2, Part 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

--- 4 under No known restrictions

Belgorod

1) Sergey Aleksandrovich Voykov, born 28 August 1975 – arrested on 7 February 2018; released under travel restrictions on 10 February 2018, which later lapsed; suspect under Article 282.2 Part 2; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Kamchatka – Yelizovo

2) Konstantin Aleksandrovich Bazhenov, born 1977 – arrested on 19 August 2018; detained on 21 August 2018, until 18 October 2018; released on appeal on 29 August 2018; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

Kamchatka – Vilyuchinsk

3) Yelena Vyacheslavovna Popova, born 1963 – arrested on 30 July 2018 and detained for 48 hours, extended to 72 hours; placed under house arrest on 3 August 2018; released from house arrest on appeal on 10 August 2018; suspect under Article 282.2, Part 1 and Article 282.2, Part 1.1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

4) Mikhail Yuryevich Popov, born 1962 – arrested on 30 July 2018; detained on 1 August 2018; released on appeal on 9 August 2018; suspect under Article 282.2, Part 1 and Article 282.2, Part 1.1; not on Rosfinmonitoring List

(END)