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Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

In the Primorye Territory, Searches Do Not Stop. The Siloviki Came to a 77-year-old Believer Three Times; Once He Was Beaten

Primorye Territory

On January 22, 2020, a series of searches took place in the villages of Razdolny and Timofeevka (Primorye Territory). Law enforcement officers raided three believers, including 77-year-old Vladimir Filippov, who had previously been beaten by security forces for his faith.

In addition to Filippov's home, the security forces searched the houses of Valentina Chernoskutova and Ekaterina Goga. One of the decrees authorizing the actions of the security forces was signed by judge Natalia Derevyagina. As follows from another search warrant, the basis for the operational measures was joint meetings of believers, which the security forces call a continuation of the activities of a banned organization and a crime.

As a result of the special operation, electronic devices were confiscated from all three.

Although no criminal case has been initiated against Vladimir Filippov, his house has been searched for the third time. On July 19, 2018, masked FSB officers with machine guns rudely broke into his apartment, where he was with his wife and daughter. After hitting the pensioner in the face, they threw him to the floor and twisted his arms. Bibles in various translations, personal publications and electronic equipment were seized from the family.

On August 15, 2019, under the pretext of a "population census", senior investigator D. A. Shevchenko came to the Filippovs' apartment and conducted a second search, but without a court order. Due to the rude treatment of the authorities, Vladimir's wife Lyubov has already suffered a hypertensive crisis twice. I had to call an ambulance.

Case of Filippov in Razdolnoye

Case History
In the small Far Eastern village of Razdolnoye, several pensioners suddenly found themselves in the spotlight of the Investigative Committee because they profess the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In 2017, then 74-year-old Vladimir Filippov, a former career military man, talked about his faith with a certain B.N. Ulyankin, who portrayed an interest in the Bible. Since then, the believer has been put under surveillance, searched three times (including without a court order) and even beaten. Due to stress, Vladimir’s wife suffered attacks of hypertension. In May 2020, the case was referred to the court, and in December the hearings reached the finish line: the state prosecutor recommended that the court sentence the pensioner to 6.5 years in prison. On March 15, 2021, the judge of the Nadezhdinskiy District Court of the Primorsky Territory, Diana Merzlyakova, sentenced the believer to 6 years of suspended imprisonment with a probation period of 4 years and with restriction of liberty for 1 year. The Primorsky Regional Court upheld the verdict.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Primorye Territory
Locality:
Razdolnoye
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, he "committed active actions of an organizational nature ... expressed in the convening of meetings, the organization of religious speeches and worship ... distribution of literature with extremist content, implementation of preaching activities"
Court case number:
11902050015000037
Initiated:
July 1, 2019
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Primorsky Territory
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-7/2021 (1-130/2020)
Court:
Надеждинский районный суд Приморского края
Case History
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