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