The Case of Proshenkov and Others in Saratov

Case History

In February 2025, the FSB Directorate for the Saratov Region initiated a criminal case for participating in the activity of an organization declared extremist. This is how the investigation interprets the holding of peaceful meetings for worship of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In September of the same year, searches were carried out at the homes of several believers in Saratov and the village of Anastasino. The court placed Mikhail Proshenkov, Aleksey Kazakov, Aleksandr Akelin and Filipp Ombysh in a pretrial detention center, and Sergey Yefremov under house arrest. During the search, a stun gun was repeatedly and unreasonably used against Proshenkov, his wife asked numerous authorities to urgently investigate the incident. The court soon transferred all four believers from the pre-trial detention center to house arrest.

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    Major of Justice A. N. Prydatko, senior investigator of the FSB Directorate for the Saratov Region, initiates a criminal case on organizing the activities of an extremist organization.

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    The Frunzenskiy District Court of Saratov sanctions searches in the homes of local believers.

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    The court sends four believers — Aleksandr Akelin, 59, Mikhail Proshenkov, 58, Aleksey Kazakov, 56, and Filipp Ombysh, 40 — to a pretrial detention center. Sergey Yefremov, 29, is placed under house arrest.

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    The believers are in quarantine cells. Mikhail Proshenkov and Aleksandr Akelin have already received letters from their relatives.

    Proshenkov has pain in his joints, and to relieve the pain, he massages his legs. He developed a tremor due to the stress he suffered during the search; his body still shows marks from the stun gun. Mikhail has difficulty reading because law enforcement officers broke his glasses; but there is a large print copy of the Gospels in his cell.

    Aleksey Kazakov misses his family. Being separated is especially difficult for his daughter, who has been disabled since childhood — they have never been apart even for a week.

    Aleksandr Akelin receives the necessary medications from his relatives.

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    The court of appeal changes the preventive measure for Akelin, Ombysh and Kazakov to house arrest.

    Proshenkov remains in pretrial detention until October 28. The appeal of the appointed lawyer against the preventive measure for the believer was received by the court on September 11, but it has not yet been considered.

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    The Court of Appeal changes the restriction measure for Mikhail Proshenkov: he is released from the pre-trial detention center and transferred to house arrest.

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