Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

“FSB for 33rd Guards Rocket Army” Enters Into Battle With Believers in Krasnoyarsk Territory

Krasnoyarsk Territory

On June 18, 2020 in the town of Nazarovo there were mass searches in the homes of local believers. An armed detachment of security officers invaded the homes of the Shulyuk spouses. As a result, Ivan Shulyuk, 43, was detained. In the same morning, a criminal case was opened against him, based on the materials of operational and search activities of the “FSB for 33rd Guards Rocket Army”.

Ivan Shulyuk is an investigator of the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee for the Nazarovo district of Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Republic of Khakassia, Lieutenant of Justice D. Smolin initiated a criminal case under part 1 of article 282. 2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. According to the materials of operational and search activities, the believer is allegedly "a leader with wide functionality" and "forms a stable opinion about the need to continue the activities of the religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses despite its ban". The list of grounds for initiation of criminal proceedings includes "discussion of biblical writings, prayer".

At 6:35 a.m. on June 18, investigator Smolin presented the believers with a decree to "search in cases that do not require delay.” In the dwellings of the local citizens, law enforcers searched for electronic devices and "objects of extremist paraphernalia" to confirm "the existence of an organization of extremist orientation and participation in its activities.”

Russian law enforcers refer to Article 9 of the law "On countering extremist activities" and start hundreds of similar criminal cases against civilians who do not harm anyone. In reality, the Supreme Court did not ban the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, as repeatedly emphasized by Russian authorities, including the Ministry of Justice, the government and President Vladimir Putin.

Case of Shulyuk in Nazarov

Case History
Ivan Shulyuk’s grandparents were subjected to repression for their faith in the 1940s and 1950s. In 2020, their grandson, a peaceful believer from Nazarov, faced the same persecution. In June, Ivan ended up in a temporary detention center after a rash of searches in his city. The Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case against him, on suspicion of organizing the activities of an extremist organization, solely because of his religion. Shulyuk spent about a month in custody, then he was released under a recognizance agreement. In August 2021, the case went to trial. The case materials contained expert opinions confirming that the faith of Jehovah’s Witnesses is not prohibited and there are no signs of extremism in the materials examined. In May 2023, the City Court of the Krasnoyarsk Territory sentenced the believer to a seven year suspended sentence. An appeal court upheld the decision in September.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Krasnoyarsk Territory
Locality:
Nazarovo
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, he is "a leader with broad functionality" and "forms a strong opinion about the need to continue the activities of the religious organization Jehovah's Witnesses despite its ban."
Court case number:
12002040035000015
Initiated:
June 17, 2020
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Republic of Khakassia
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-4/2023 (1-26/2022; 1-365/2021)
Court of First Instance:
Назаровский городской суд Красноярского края
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Лев Афанасьев
Case History
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