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Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

New Search and Criminal Case for Faith in Luchegorsk. 62-Year-Old Yuriy Ponomarenko Was Placed on Recognizance Not to Leave

Primorye Territory

On July 22, 2021, a 62-year-old electrician Yuriy Ponomarenko was searched in Luchegorsk (Primorsky Territory). Later, the believer was interrogated and placed on recognizance not to leave. A criminal case was initiated against him under an extremist article.

On July 16, 2021, the senior investigator of the Investigation Department for the city of Dalnerechensk of the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee for the Primorsky Territory N.A. Sorokina opened a criminal case under Part 1 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organization of extremist activities). After 6 days, she, accompanied by three operatives and two attesting witnesses, came to search Yuriy Ponomarenko's apartment. A mobile phone, a hard drive and postcards with Bible verses were confiscated from the believer. The security forces also searched his garage.

On July 24, Yuriy was summoned for interrogation to Dalnerechensk, which is located 80 kilometers from Luchegorsk. As evidence of the "crime", the investigator used a recording of a telephone conversation with a co-religionist, made in 2018. According to Sorokina, she also has records of how the services were held in the period 2017-2019.

Yuriy Ponomarenko became the 37th believer in the Primorsky Territory who is persecuted for his religious beliefs. The case against two other residents of Luchegorsk, Sergey Sergeyev and Yuriy Belosludtsev, is pending trial .

The Case of Ponomarenko and Others in Luchegorsk

Case History
In July 2021, Yuriy Ponomarenko’s home was searched in Luchegorsk. The Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case against him on suspicion of organizing the activity of an extremist organization. In November of the same year, as part of the Ponomarenko case, another search was carried out: in the home of Oleg Sergeyev. He was charged under the same article. In March 2022, two more defendants appeared in the case: Andrey Lyakhov and Nikolay Dikhtyar were charged with participating in the activity of an extremist organization. In June 2022, the criminal case against the believers went to court. Almost two years later, in May 2024, the believers were given suspended sentences ranging from two and a half to six and a half years. Later, at the request of the prosecutor, the court of appeal reduced the term of each of the believers by one month.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Primorye Territory
Locality:
Luchegorsk
Court case number:
12102050012000058
Initiated:
July 16, 2021
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate for the city of Dalnerechensk of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Primorsky Territory
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2), 282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-6/2024 (1-22/2023; 1-197/2022)
Court of First Instance:
Пожарский районный суд Приморского края
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Михаил Атрошко
Case History
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