Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

59-year-old Believer Andrey Okhapkin Arrested After a New Series of Searches in the Ivanovo Region

Ivanovo Region

On November 24, 2021, six families of Jehovah's Witnesses were searched in the town of Kineshma, Ivanovo Region. Andrey Okhapkin, 59, was sent to pretrial detention for 2 months by a court decision.

During the searches, security officials confiscated electronic devices from believers. They also searched for printed publications and personal records. As it turned out, Okhapkin is suspected of "resuming extremist activity." The rest of the believers are in the case as witnesses. Information is being specified.

Update.

According to updated information, the searches took place in the afternoon of November 23, 2021. Some lasted until almost midnight. In addition to electronic devices, personal records, photographs, and information carriers were confiscated from the believers. During one of the searches, a minor was interrogated. To the surprise of the security officer, the girl took advantage of Article 51 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

In one of the cases, the raid was led by V. S. Nesterov, FSB Investigative Committee for Ivanovo Region interrogator. On November 27, some of the believers were summoned for interrogation. The FSB investigator R. A. Drozdov interrogated a married couple and a woman whose houses were searched. These also appealed to Article 51 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation. According to one of the women, the investigator threatened her with the possibility that using this article during interrogation may result in the change of her status from a witness in the case of Andrey Okhapkin into an accused.

The Case of Okhapkin in Kineshma

Case History
In November 2021, in the city of Kineshma, FSB officers conducted searches in the homes of six families of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The day before, a criminal case was initiated against Andrey Okhapkin because of a conversation about the Bible, which the investigators considered extremism. The believer spent almost 3 months in a pretrial detention center. In February 2022, he was placed under house arrest for 5 months, later the preventive measure was eased. In December, Andrey Okhapkin’s case went to court. The charge is based on the testimony of a secret witness. In August 2024, the court fined Okhapkin to 540,000 rubles.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Ivanovo Region
Locality:
Kineshma
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, he "resumed extremist activities on the territory of the city of Kineshma."
Court case number:
12107240001000041
Initiated:
November 18, 2021
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Branch of the Federal Security Service of Russia in the Ivanovo Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-10/2024 (1-66/2023; 1-459/2022)
Court of First Instance:
Кинешемский городской суд Ивановской области
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Евгений Кротов
Case History
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