Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

New Searches in Kuzbass: Two Believers From Kaltan Town Were Detained

Kemerovo Region

On the morning of May 2, 2021, searches were carried out in the small town of Kaltan, Kemerovo Region. Two men, 49-year-old Vitaliy Syrykh and 53-year-old Aleksandr Tsikunov, were detained and sent to a temporary detention center.

The security forces searched the homes of at least four local residents. The believers themselves were taken for interrogation, two of them were later released. Law enforcers took Aleksandr Tsikunov to the neighboring town of Osinniki, and Vitaliy Syrykh was taken to the regional center, Kemerovo, more than 250 km from his home. In the near future, the court will determine a preventive measure for them.

Update.

On May 4, 2021, the judge of the Kaltan District Court, Yevgeniy Vanyushin, sent Vitaliy Syrykh under house arrest until June 22, 2021. He is charged under Part 2 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (participation in extremist activities). On the same day, Judge Vanyushin placed Alexandr Tsikunov under house arrest until June 27, 2021. The believer is in the status of an accused under Part 1 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organization of extremist activities).

Some details of the incident have become known. For example, the security forces burst into the houses of believers shouting: "On the floor, hands behind your back!" The searches were attended by the investigators of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation Stepan Tyshchenko and Maksim Somik, the operative of the Center for Combating Extremism A. V. Dydenko and representatives of the FSB, accompanied by armed riot police. After 4 hours of searches in the homes of civilians, electronic devices, bank cards, personal records and photographs were seized. Law enforcers were looking for forbidden literature, namely "Holy Scripture - New World Translation." During the search at the Tsikunovs' house, a young grandson was present, who burst into tears from fear. Another family had three children at home, aged 4 to 8, who were very frightened by what was happening. As a result, due to stress, the family could not spend the night in their home, because they were afraid to stay at home.

Kaltan is already the sixth settlement in the region where peaceful believers are subjected to religious repression. Earlier, criminal cases for their faith were initiated against eight men from Kemerovo, Belovo, Berezovsky, Prokopyevsk and Taiga. Two, Sergey Britvin and Vadim Levchuk, have already been convicted and are serving their sentences in a colony.

Case of Tsikunov in Kaltan

Case History
In May 2021, searches were carried out in the small town of Kaltan with the participation of the Investigative Committee for the Kemerovo Region, the CPE and the FSB. One of the detainees, civil engineer Aleksandr Tsikunov, spent 2 days in a temporary detention facility. The court then placed him under house arrest, and 51 days later he was ordered not to leave the place. The believer was accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization. This is how the investigation interpreted Tsikunov’s communication with friends via video conferencing on biblical topics. In August 2022, the prosecutor’s office returned the case for further investigation due to violations of the rights of the believer during the production of examinations. In June 2023, the case went to court. In September of the same year, Aleksandr suffered a heart attack, which is why the hearings were suspended for several months.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Kemerovo Region
Locality:
Kaltan
Suspected of:
"deliberately organized the continuation of the activities of the LRO of Jehovah's Witnesses in the city of Kaltan ... through a program for organizing videoconferences, conducting conversations" (from the decision on the election of a preventive measure)
Court case number:
12102320011000032
Initiated:
April 27, 2021
Current case stage:
trial in court of first instance
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Kemerovo Region - Kuzbass
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-9/2024 (1-137/2023)
Court of First Instance:
Калтанский районный суд Кемеровской области
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Алексей Семериков
Case History

The Case of the Syrykh in Kaltan

Case History
In May 2021, searches were carried out in Kaltan with the participation of the FSB. The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case for participation in the activities of an extremist organization against peaceful believer Vitaliy Syrykh. He was detained, interrogated and placed under house arrest. Soon the measure of restraint was changed to a written undertaking not to leave.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Kemerovo Region
Locality:
Kaltan
Court case number:
12102320011000029
Initiated:
April 27, 2021
Current case stage:
case dismissed
Investigating:
Osinniki Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Kemerovo Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Case History
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