Criminal Investigation and Trial

Believers Are Denied Transfer From Overcrowded Pre-Trial Detention Centers, Despite the Increased Risk of COVID-19

Novosibirsk Region,   Tatarstan

As of April 24, 2020, 23 believers, including two women, await trial in detention centers in 12 regions of Russia. None are accused of violent acts. Nevertheless, all of the applications to transfer them to house arrest in view of the COVID-19 pandemic were denied.

For example, a petition was filed with the Main Investigative Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Republic of Tatarstan to change the measure of restraint for Andrey Bochkarev, who is in a special risk group due to his illnesses. The next day, the senior investigator of the SCh of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Republic of Tatarstan, Major of Justice R. Galimzyanov, decided to refuse the petition, arguing that neither the situation with the coronavirus nor the state of health obliges him to soften the believer's preventive measure.

In Novosibirsk, on April 16, 2020, the judge of the Leninsky District Court, Ekaterina Kashina, in the absence of listeners in the courtroom due to the coronavirus epidemic, extended the detention of believer Yuri Savelyev until July 22, 2020. The 66-year-old believer tried to tell the judge that in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of his cellmates was doing work in the pre-trial detention center that involved contact with a large number of people. But at the same time, he does not use a mask, gloves, or shoe covers, which creates conditions for a high risk of infection. The judge was not touched by these arguments.

At the same time, investigators, prosecutors and judges are aware that there are no victims in cases against believers, and the believers themselves are infinitely far from violence and there is no need to expose them to the mortal risk of falling ill behind bars.

In addition to the 23 believers in pre-trial detention, 8 more people are in various correctional colonies, as their conviction for their faith has entered into force.

The Case of the Bochkarevs and Obizhestvit in Kazan

Case History
In January 2020, Tatyana Obizhestvit hosted guests at her home. Suddenly, law enforcement officers rushed in and searched her home. Then 15 people were taken for interrogation. Among them were two women over 80 years old and two children. A criminal case was initiated against Tatyana, as well as Andrey and Leysan Bochkarev under an article against extremism only because they believe in Jehovah God. The believers spent 2 days in a temporary detention facility, after which the women were placed under house arrest, and Andrey was placed in a pretrial detention center. In April 2021, the case went to court. Two secret witnesses testified in the case: one posing as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the other claiming that he had been “offered to join the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” In February 2023, Tatyana Obizhestvit and Leysan Bochkareva received suspended sentences of 2 and 2.5 years, respectively. Andrey Bochkarev was sentenced to 3 years and 1 month in a penal colony, but was released in the courtroom, since he actually served this term in a pretrial detention center. The courts of appeal and cassation upheld this decision.
Timeline

Persons in case

Bochkarev
Andrey
Bochkareva
Leysan
Obizhestvit
Tatyana

Criminal case

Region:
Tatarstan
Locality:
Kazan
Court case number:
11901920041000244
Initiated:
December 27, 2019
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Unit of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Republic of Tatarstan
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-23/2023 (1-46/2022; 1-280/2021)
Court of First Instance:
Vakhitovskiy District Court of the City of Kazan
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Yuriy Arsenyuk
Case History

Case of Savelyev in Novosibirsk

Case History
Six years in a penal colony—this was the harsh sentence that 66-year-old Yuri Savelyev from the city of Novosibirsk received for his faith. The man was arrested in November 2018 during searches in the homes of believers. He was in pre-trial detention until his sentencing in December 2020. The appellate court, and later the cassation court, upheld the verdict. In May 2021, Yuriy Savelyev was transferred to Penal Colony No. 5 in the city of Rubtsovsk, Altai Territory. In the colony, the administration, with no legitimate basis, tried to force the believer into treatment for alcoholism. On far-fetched grounds, the elderly man spent about nine months in harsh conditions of detention. Yuriy was released in July 2023.
Timeline

Persons in case

Savelyev
Yuriy

Criminal case

Region:
Novosibirsk Region
Locality:
Novosibirsk
Suspected of:
according to the investigation he unlawfully organised the activity of the religious organisation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the city of Novosibirsk (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:
11802500019000098
Initiated:
November 7, 2018
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Novosibirsk Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-42/2020
Court:
Leninskiy District Court of the City of Novosibirsk
Case History
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