Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

A Series of Searches at Homes of Jehovah's Witnesses Took Place in Stavropol and Karachay-Cherkessia

Karachay-Cherkessia

On November 23, 2021, the reports came that searches had been initiated in the village of Mednogorskiy (Karachay-Cherkessia), in Dmitriy and Ilya Pasynkovs' as well as two other women believers’ homes. Meanwhile, in Stavropol, security forces invaded the house of a relative of the Pasynkovs.

During the searches, a book, two flash drives and an old tablet were seized from the Pasynkov family. Nothing was confiscated from the women, the law enforcement officers simply handed them the investigator's order for a search, which was carried out without a court order. According to the believers, the investigator Andreyuk motivated this by the fact that "the search cannot be delayed."

This is the second series of special events against believers in Mednogorskoye in 2021: in January, FSB officers raided at least 3 apartments of the Witnesses, but then there was no active development of criminal prosecution.

Searches of Jehovah's Witnesses in Karachay-Cherkessia have been going on since 2016 - then, as part of an administrative case, the premises of residents of Mednogorsk and the village of Kurdzhinovo, who were suspected of distributing "extremist literature", were examined. In 2019, security forces searched 42-year-old Indira, who is raising four children alone. In December of the same year, after a series of raids, 43-year-old Albert Batchaev was arrested and his case is being heard in court. In 2020, a group of security officials led by V. Drakin, an investigator of the FSB Directorate for Karachay-Cherkessia, conducted a search of a 56-year-old believer. Currently, two believers from Karachay-Cherkessia are under investigation and under recognizance not to leave.

The case of Pasynkov in Mednogorsky

Case History
In December 2022, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against a resident of Stavropol, Aleksey Pasynkov, who, together with his wife, is raising a disabled child. The believer was suspected of organizing the activities of an extremist organization. Aleksey, his family, as well as other believers, are undergoing several waves of searches. Pasynkov's criminal prosecution is linked to other cases against Jehovah's Witnesses in Karachay-Cherkessia, including the case against Irina Perefilyeva. In November 2023, the case went to court, and in March and June 2024, it was referred to judges for new trials two times.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Karachay-Cherkessia
Locality:
Mednogorsky
Suspected of:
"organized and maintained contacts with persons professing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, including those living in other regions of the Russian Federation ... was the initiator and had an advantage in determining the course of worship, directed the actions of other persons present at the services" (from the decision to initiate a criminal case)
Court case number:
12202910004000097
Initiated:
December 8, 2022
Current case stage:
trial in court of first instance
Investigating:
Zelenchuksky Interdistrict Investigation Department of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Karachay-Cherkess Republic
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-13/2024 (1-101/2023)
Court of First Instance:
Урупский районный суд КЧР
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Галина Евсегнеева
Case History

The case of Ogoreva in Mednogorskiy

Case History
The Ogorev family from the village of Mednogorsky faced a search of their home in November 2021, when Svetlana and her mother were witnesses in the case of Aleksey Pasynkov. After 2 years, the security forces again came to search their home. The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against Svetlana. The investigator considered conversations through messengers with friends about the Holy Scriptures, the performance of religious songs and prayers to Jehovah God as extremism. The case went to court in July 2024 but was soon returned to the prosecutor to eliminate the shortcomings. In November, second court hearings began.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Karachay-Cherkessia
Locality:
Mednogorskiy
Suspected of:
"I took part in individual lessons, meetings - collective religious services ... sang songs... and prayers to Jehovah God" (from the decision to initiate a criminal case).
Court case number:
12302910004000164
Initiated:
December 27, 2023
Current case stage:
trial in court of first instance
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-41/2024
Court of First Instance:
Урупский районный суд Карачаево-Черкесской Республики
Case History

The Case of Maria Ogoreva in Mednogorsky

Case History
In 2021 and 2023, Mariya Ogoreva was searched as part of criminal cases against Aleksey Pasynkov and her daughter Svetlana. In July 2024, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case for participation in the activities of an extremist organization against Mariya herself, and in August of the same year, the pensioner was searched for the third time.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Karachay-Cherkessia
Locality:
Mednogorskiy
Suspected of:
"continued to study and promote the advantages of the followers of the religious teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses [...] maintained contacts with persons professing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses ... for the purpose of participating in worship services and studying the Holy Scriptures (Bible)" (from the decision to initiate a criminal case)
Court case number:
12402910004000074
Initiated:
July 23, 2024
Current case stage:
preliminary investigation
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Case History
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