Illustrative photo

Criminal trial

In Arkhangelsk, another criminal case was initiated against Yevgeniy Yakku for his faith

Arkhangelsk Region

On November 25, 2019, a second criminal case on extremism was initiated against Yevgeniy Yakku in Arkhangelsk. At the same time, he has already been under investigation since February of this year. In April, a court seized two cars belonging to the believer's family. The new criminal case was combined in one proceeding with the previous one.

R. V. Shagarov, an investigator for especially important cases of the Investigative Committee, who is investigating the criminal case against Yevgeny Yakku, has expanded the scope of the charges: now, in addition to participating in the activities of an extremist organization and involving others in its activities (parts 1.1 and 2 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), the believer is also accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization (part 1 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). This is a more serious charge, as Yakku now faces six to ten years in prison.

In addition to Yevgeniy Yakku, another resident of Arkhangelsk, 78-year-old Kaleria Mamykina, faced persecution for her faith, the criminal case against her was initiated on May 7, 2019, and the next day was merged with the Yakku case. Prior to this, the elderly woman had been under surveillance for more than a year.

The ranks of peaceful believers who profess a religion that is "objectionable" to law enforcement officers are constantly replenished. To date, at least 116 criminal cases have been opened against 300 Russians, and their number continues to grow steadily.

Case of Yakku in Arkhangelsk

Case History
The criminal prosecution of Yevgeniy Yakku, an exemplary family man from Arkhangelsk, began in February 2019 - his house was searched, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against him. The believer was left without work, his accounts were blocked, cars were arrested. In May, after a year of surveillance of Kaleria Mamykina, a case was opened against her, the “corpus delicti” of which was talking about religion with friends at her home. After 7 months, the charges against her were dropped, in June 2021, without waiting for the restoration of her good name, Kaleria died of covid. Yakku’s case went to court in February 2020. The investigator accused Yevgeniy of allegedly continuing the activities of the LRO of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Arkhangelsk, which was not recognized as extremist. The believer sent complaints to the ECHR, and his wife to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The answer confirmed that Jehovah’s Witnesses have the right to practice their religion in groups. Despite this, in July 2021, the court sentenced the believer to a fine of 780,000 rubles. The Court of Appeal and Cassation upheld this decision.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Arkhangelsk Region
Locality:
Arkhangelsk
Suspected of:
according to the investigation he participated in religious services, which is interpreted as participating in and recruiting others into the activity of an “extremist organisation” (with reference to the decision of the Russian Supreme Court on the liquidation of all 396 registered organisations of Jehovah’s Witnesses)
Court case number:
11902110035000009
Initiated:
February 13, 2019
Current case stage:
The verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the Directorate of the FSB of Russia for Arkhangelsk Region and Nenets Autonomous Area
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2), 282.2 (1), 282.2 (1.1)
Court case number:
1-4/2021 (1-249/2020)
Court:
Соломбальский районный суд
Case History