Case of Popova in Cherkessk

At about 7 a.m., law enforcement officers stop 55-year-old Rimma Popova on the street when she goes to work and present her with a search warrant for her home. The search lasts about an hour. A woman's phone and a notebook with personal notes are seized. The believer refuses to sign the protocol and in response hears threats that she will be sent to a pre-trial detention center.

Aslan Shabanov, senior investigator of the Investigative Directorate for the city of Cherkessk of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, initiates a criminal case against Rimma Popova under Part 1.1 and Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The believer is interrogated and placed in a temporary detention facility.

The judge of the Circassian City Court Rustam Atayev chooses a measure of restraint for Popova in the form of house arrest for a period of 2 months.

Investigator Shabanov charges the believer with extremism under two criminal articles. The ruling states that the woman committed "inducing, recruiting or otherwise involving a person in the activities of an extremist organization ... by conducting classes with E. V. Miroshnik on the study of the foundations of the religious activity of Jehovah's Witnesses."

Law enforcers considered the believer's conversations about the Bible to be "recruiting conversations" and accused her of "undermining the foundations of the constitutional order and state security by her actions."

Judge of the Circassian City Court Din-Islam Chotchaev softens the measure of restraint for Rimma Popova from house arrest to prohibition of certain actions. Taking into account the state of health of the accused and the data confirming that she is not going to hide from the investigation, the judge rejects the petition of investigator N. R. Jamalutdinov, who asks to leave the previous measure of restraint. Now the believer is forbidden to leave the house only at night, communicate with witnesses in the case, use the Internet and mobile communications.

As a result of a medical examination, it turns out that the believer suffered a heart attack, possibly during the period of house arrest. From the comfort of her home, Rimma experienced severe stress because of the criminal case initiated against her. She is hospitalized.

After being discharged from the hospital, an electronic bracelet is put on the believer's leg to monitor her whereabouts from 21:00 to 06:00. Despite the fact that the believer goes to work, her illness, according to the cardiologist, requires further treatment.

Rimma Popova is charged under two parts of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation — participation in the activities of an extremist organization and involvement of persons in it. The investigation sees a crime in peaceful conversations with residents about God.

Rimma Popova's case is submitted to the Circassian City Court. It is appointed to Judge Din-Islam Chotchaev.

The first court hearing is held. The lawyer asks to change the measure of restraint of the believer to a written undertaking not to leave due to the state of her health, but the court extends Popova's ban on certain actions.

The prosecutor announces the indictment.

The defendant expresses her attitude towards the prosecution. It reads: "Your Honor! I am sure that you, as a lawyer and as a person, will understand the difference between Christian service to God, which is a part of my life, and extremism, which is completely alien to me. I plead not guilty and believe that the charge against me is illegal."

The prosecutor interrogates the prosecution's witnesses – three officers of the CPE and the FSB.

Next, witness Ogarev is interrogated. His wife was a prosecution witness in a similar case in Cherkessk. He does not know the defendant personally.

The judge extends the preventive measure for Rimma Popova, despite the lawyer's petition to replace the ban on certain actions with a recognizance agreement.