Case of Voykov and Shalyapin in Belgorod

Case History

In February 2018, police officers, the Interior Ministry Investigative Department, and armed SOBR fighters raided at least 16 homes of local Jehovah’s Witnesses in Belgorod. Peaceful believers were subjected to rough verbal and physical treatment. Dozens of people, including a group of people with hearing disabilities, were forcibly taken to the police for questioning. The last of the interrogated was released only the next morning. Two believers, Anatoliy Chaliapin and Sergey Voikov, were detained for two days and then released on their own recognizance. They are accused of participating in the activities of a banned organization, as the investigation interprets the participation of men in the services of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The criminal case was handled by an investigation team consisting of 12 employees of the Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Belgorod Region. In August 2019, the investigation of the case was suspended, but a month later the prosecutor’s office overturned this decision, and the case was sent for additional investigation.
Timeline

  • #

    Major Lyushakov, an employee of the CPE of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Belgorod Region, submits a report on the discovery of signs of a crime: local residents "for religious reasons participated in meetings, during which they were engaged in propaganda activities, got acquainted with literature."

  • #

    The Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Belgorod Region is initiating a case under Article 282.2 (2) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

  • #

    In the evening, large groups of law enforcement officers, consisting of police officers, the Investigative Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and armed SOBR fighters, invade the private homes of Belgorod residents who are believed to be Jehovah's Witnesses. In some cases, citizens are knocked to the floor, put against the wall, searches are carried out in their homes, which are accompanied by offensive comments. Bibles, all electronic devices and data carriers, passports, money, and in some cases even photographs hanging on the wall are seized from believers.

    After the searches, dozens of detainees are taken for interrogation. Among them is a group of deaf people who have gathered for friendly communication. At the police department at 60 Knyaz Trubetskoy Street, passport data is collected from them, fingerprints are taken, summonses are issued to believers, after which most are released. The last of the released leaves at 9 am the next day.

    Anatoliy Chaliapin and Sergey Voikov were taken into custody for 48 hours.

    An investigation team consisting of 12 employees of the Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has been created.

  • #
    Search Temporary detention facility Review

    Anatoly Chaliapin and Sergey Voikov were released from custody and sentenced to recognizance not to leave due to suspicion of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code.

  • #

    The investigation of the case has been suspended.

  • #

    The prosecutor's office cancels the suspension of the investigation of the case. The case was sent for further investigation.

Back to top