Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

Yet Another Case for Their Faith in Novosibirsk. Charged — Olga Chirikova, 67

Novosibirsk Region

On August 18, 2026, one of Jehovah's Witnesses, Olga Chirikova, was detained at the Yekaterinburg railway station during a security check. She was placed in a temporary detention facility for several hours, then released under a recognizance agreement.

A few days later, the believer was summoned for interrogation at the Novosibirsk Directorate of the FSB. Captain of Justice G. A. Golovachev, senior investigator, told Olga that on January 10, 2022, a case was initiated against her for participating in the activity of an extremist organization. He handed Olga the ruling to charge her.

Olga Chirikova has been added to the Rosfinmonitoring list. Her criminal prosecution is related to the case of Maletskov and Chaplykina, who are currently imprisoned for their faith in God.

The Chirikova Case in Novosibirsk

Case History
In April 2019, a search was conducted at Olga Chirikova’s home as part of a case against other believers from Novosibirsk. In January 2022, a criminal case was initiated against her for participating in the activity of an extremist organization. In May of that year, a court ruling was issued to charge her as a defendant, but she did not receive the actual document until August 2026, when she was detained at the railway station in Yekaterinburg. That same day, she signed a recognizance agreement.
Timeline

Persons in case

Chirikova
Olga

Criminal case

Region:
Novosibirsk Region
Locality:
Novosibirsk
Suspected of:
"regularly participated in religious meetings of followers of the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses, studied the fundamentals of this teaching, and improved her methods and approaches to ministerial activity" (from the order to bring charges)
Court case number:
12207500001000001
Initiated:
January 10, 2022
Current case stage:
preliminary investigation
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the FSB Directorate for the Novosibirsk Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Case History
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