Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

The Homes of Jehovah's Witnesses in Sevastopol Searched Again. Two Believers Arrested

Crimea

On August 24, 2022, the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses were searched in Sevastopol. Viktor Kudinov, 53, and Sergey Zhigalov, 51, were arrested, and a criminal case was initiated against them.

The believers were accused of organizing the activities of a banned organization (part 1 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), they were placed in a temporary detention facility. It is expected that on August 26 the court will choose a measure of restraint for them.

Also on August 24, another married couple was searched. All electronic devices were confiscated from them and taken to the FSB for interrogation.

In total, criminal cases have been opened in Crimea against 16 Jehovah's Witnesses, 4 of whom are serving sentences in a penal colony.

The case of Zhigalov and Kudinov in Sevastopol

Case History
In August 2022, another search was carried out in the homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Sevastopol. Two men, Sergey Zhigalov and Viktor Kudinov, were detained, and 2 days later they were placed under house arrest. The Investigative Committee charged the believers with organizing the activities of an extremist organization for holding online worship services. In October, the court replaced the men’s preventive measure with a ban on certain actions. The case went to court in March 2023.
Timeline

Persons in case

Kudinov
Viktor
Zhigalov
Sergey

Criminal case

Region:
Crimea
Locality:
Sevastopol
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, he held meetings, religious speeches, study of materials, as well as propaganda of religious ideas ... using the Internet
Court case number:
12202670003000126
Initiated:
August 24, 2022
Current case stage:
trial in Court of First Instance
Investigating:
SO in the Gagarinsky district of the city of Sevastopol of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-373/2023
Court of First Instance:
Гагаринский районный суд г. Севастополя
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Сергей Коротун
Case History