Photo: Invasion of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Surgut (from the archives, 2018)

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

During Mass Searches in the Town of Pechora, 14 Witnesses Were Detained, including Women and the Elderly. Four Were Not Released Even After a Day

Komi

On January 28, 2020, at least ten addresses of believers were searched in Pechora (Komi). Of 14 people detained, four remain in custody: 68-year-old Pavel Ogorodov, who suffered a stroke; 60-year-old Gennadiy Polyakevich, Gennadiy Skutelets, 43, and Maksim Terentyev, 28.

The storming of the apartment of 43-year-old Gennadiy Skutelets began at 6:20 am. The search lasted six hours. Gennady's elderly mother was in the apartment. At this time, his acquaintance, 28-year-old Maxim Terentyev, came to Gennady to take a meat grinder. He, as well as Gennadiy, together with his mother, were taken for interrogation to the department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The woman was released after interrogation, and Skutelets and Terentyev were sent to the temporary detention facility.

Before his arrest, Pavel Ogorodov, despite suffering a stroke, took care of his wife and daughter, both of whom have disabilities.

Update. On January 30, 2020, a court hearing was held on the measure of restraint in relation to two detainees during police raids on believers. The court left Gennadiy Polyakevich in a pre-trial detention center for two months, and Gennadiy Skutelets was released under house arrest. According to updated information, Pavel Ogorodov and Maksim Terentyev were released by the security forces on the day of detention.

Case of Polyakevich and Skutelets in Pechora

Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Komi
Locality:
Pechora
Court case number:
12002870035000003
Initiated:
January 28, 2020
Current case stage:
trial in Court of First Instance
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1), 282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-174/2023 (1-6/2022; 1-205/2021)
Court:
Печорский городской суд Республики Коми
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Алексей Коровенко
Case History