A Criminal Case for Faith Reopened Against the Already Convicted Residents of Karpinsk. A Series of Searches Took Place

On March 30, 2020, in Karpinsk, security forces again searched the homes of Venera Dulova and her daughter, Daria, as well as Aleksandr Pryanikov, who received suspended sentences on extremism charges at the end of January. The security forces also invaded the apartment of another family in the city of Volchansk (Sverdlovsk region).

The believers were involved in a new criminal case. Digital media and electronic devices were seized from them. After the searches, law enforcement officers interrogated Aleksandr Pryanikov and his wife, Anastasia, and searched their car.

It is noteworthy that the search warrant was issued by Svetlana Gabbasova, the same judge of the Karpinsky City Court who had previously sentenced Dulov and Pryanikov to suspended sentences; both then and now, investigator Vladimir Sudin initiated a criminal case. In addition to him, investigators A. Spirin and A. Ovchinnikov participated in the searches.

The decision to initiate a new criminal case was signed on February 18, 2020. If the last time believers were accused and found guilty under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (participation in the activities of an extremist organization), then in the framework of a new case under Part 1.1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (involvement in the activities of an extremist organization), three believers are accused of talking about God with residents of Karpinsk. At the same time, witnesses appear in the case, "whose true data is kept secret."