The case of Klokov in Barnaul

Case History

In the summer of 2023, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against Valeriy Klokov and Vitaliy Manuylov in Barnaul. A search was conducted in Klokov’s house. After interrogation and two days in a temporary detention center, Klokov was placed under house arrest. The men were accused of participating in the activities of an extremist organization. In April 2024, the charge against Klokov was reclassified to organizing the activity of an extremist organization. Two months later, the criminal case against Manuylov was separated into a different proceeding. In early July 2024, Klokov’s case went to court.

  • #
    July 10, 2023 Case initiated Art. 282.2 (2)

    Evgeny Kozyuchenko, Senior Investigator for Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Altai Territory, is initiating a criminal case against 37-year-old Valery Klokov and 50-year-old Vitaly Manuilov under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (participation in the activities of an extremist organization).

  • #
    July 29, 2023 Search Case initiated House arrest Interrogation Temporary detention facility

    Investigator Yevgeny Kozyuchenko, accompanied by FSB officer Artyom Suslikov and two witnesses, searches the home of Valery Klokov. The investigator refuses to call Valery's lawyer. Electronic devices, flash drives, personal records, postcards and a passport are seized from the believer and his wife. The search lasts approximately 2 hours. Then the believer is taken for interrogation to the investigative department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation in the Altai Territory. The investigator summons a lawyer by appointment. At Klokov's request, a lawyer also arrives under the agreement.

    After a personal search, the believer is detained and sent to a temporary detention facility, where a second personal search and fingerprinting are conducted.

  • #
    July 31, 2023 House arrest

    The judge of the Oktyabrsky District Court of Barnaul, Danila Teslya, satisfies the investigator's petition and sends Valery Klokov under house arrest.

  • #
    April 5, 2024 Art. 282.2 (1)

    Investigator Yevgeny Kozuchenko reclassifies Klokov's charge from Part 2 to Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. In his opinion, the believer's guilt lies in the fact that at divine services he spoke of "the opposition of Jehovah and Satan ... about the need to live in accordance with the moral laws established by Jehovah, which is manifested in respect for authority (divine), in preference for the spiritual to the material, which is propaganda of the exclusivity and superiority of persons on the basis of belonging to the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses.

  • #
    April 25, 2024 Art. 282.2 (1) Art. 282.2 (2)

    Investigator Kozuchenko brings charges against Valery Klokov and Vitaliy Manuilov in the latest version. He sees extremism in the peaceful meetings of these believers with friends, where they "actively quoted the book 'Holy Scripture.'"

  • #
    June 4, 2024

    The criminal case against Vitaliy Manuilov is separated into separate proceedings.

  • #
    June 27, 2024 Case went to court

    The case goes to the Industrial District Court of Barnaul. The case will be considered by judge Dmitry Malikov.

  • #
    June 28, 2024 Prohibition of certain actions

    Valeriy's restriction measure was changed to a ban on certain actions.

  • #
    July 29, 2024 House arrest

    The prosecutor does not agree with the change in the measure of restraint for Valery Klokov and will appeal the court's decision. For the time being, the previous restrictions - house arrest - remain in force.