Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

One of Jehovah's Witnesses Was Detained in Moscow and Taken to Saratov. Three Days Later, He Was Placed Under House Arrest

Moscow,   Saratov Region

On April 21, 2024, Moscow security forces detained one of Jehovah's Witnesses, Sergey Bagiyan, 50. He was informed that he was a suspect in a criminal case for extremism.

According to Bagiyan's relatives, law enforcement officers with machine guns came to Sergey's home in the afternoon. They behaved politely, nevertheless they handcuffed the believer and took him to the police station. Later, Sergey was transported to Saratov and placed in a temporary detention facility.

On April 24, the Volzhskiy District Court imposed house arrest for two months on him as a preventive measure.

The case of Bashabayev and Others in Saratov

Case History
In the fall of 2023, law enforcement officers conducted searches in the homes of believers. They seized electronic devices, personal records, as well as documents and all funds. Aleksey Vasilyev, Aleksey Yefremov and members of their families were taken for interrogation to the Investigative Committee. Then the men were placed in a temporary detention facility, and later under house arrest. Three days later, Anton Bashabayev was detained at the Volgograd airport. The man was interrogated by the Investigative Committee of Saratov, he spent a day in a temporary detention center, after which he was placed under house arrest. In April 2024, Sergey Bagiyan was detained in Moscow. He spent three days in the detention center, after which he was transported to Saratov and placed under house arrest. All four believers spent a year under house arrest. After that, the court imposed a ban on certain actions on them. Later, the case of Sergey Bagiyan was separated into a separate proceeding.
Timeline

Persons in case

Bashabaev
Anton
Vasiliyev
Aleksey
Yefremov
Aleksey

Criminal case

Region:
Saratov Region
Locality:
Saratov
Suspected of:
in "preaching and spreading the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses among the residents of the city of Saratov and the Saratov region," as well as in "participating in meetings held using the Zoom software" (from the decision to prosecute as defendants)
Court case number:
12302630021000098
Initiated:
October 31, 2023
Current case stage:
trial in court of first instance
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Saratov Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-159/2025
Case History

Case of Bagiyan in Saratov

Case History
Sergey Bagiyan was detained in Moscow in April 2024 as a defendant in a criminal case under an extremist article. He spent three days in the detention center, then he was transported to Saratov and placed under house arrest. A year later, the court changed the restriction measure to a ban on certain actions. In July 2025, the case against Bagiyan was separated into a separate proceeding.
Timeline

Persons in case

Bagiyan
Sergey

Criminal case

Region:
Saratov Region
Locality:
Saratov
Court case number:
42502630021000058
Initiated:
October 31, 2023
Current case stage:
preliminary investigation
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Saratov Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Case History
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