The case of Oleg Artemov in Chelyabinsk

Case History

At the end of February 2024, Aleksandr Chepenko, an investigator of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, opened two criminal cases at once against another resident of Chelyabinsk, Oleg Artemov. The believer was suspected of participating in the activities of an extremist organization and its financing due to the fact that he participated in meetings for worship and also paid for a video conferencing application. Artemov’s phone and bank cards were seized, and he himself was placed under recognizance agreement. A year later, the investigation reclassified the charge from the article on participation in the activities of an extremist organization to the organization of this activity.
Timeline

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    Case initiated Art. 282.2 (2) Art. 282.3 (1)

    Based on the materials separated from the case of Maxim Khamatshin , the investigator of the Investigative Committee, Colonel Alexander Chepenko, initiates two criminal cases against 28-year-old Oleg Artemov - on charges of participation in the activities of an extremist organization and its financing.

    According to Chepenko, the believer "in the period from 06.09.2017 to 08.09.2022 ... at least 5 times intentionally... took part in the activities of a religious association... in the form of participation in religious meetings... conducting conversations with residents of Chelyabinsk, demonstrating and watching educational videos".

    Artemov is also suspected of financing the activities of an extremist organization, since he allegedly "made at least 20 payments ... by paying for "Zoom"... to ensure the holding of meetings of members of the said religious association by videoconference."

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    Interrogation

    In the investigator's office, bank cards and a smartphone are seized from Artemov.

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    Interrogation Recognizance agreement

    After a 15-minute interrogation, investigator Chepenko takes Oleg Artemov on his own recognizance. During interrogation, the believer declares that he does not agree with the suspicions and enjoys the right not to testify against himself and his loved ones. He also requests that the case be dismissed for lack of corpus delicti.

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    Art. 282.2 (2) Art. 282.3 (1)

    Vadim Baltachev, Senior Investigator of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Chelyabinsk Region, issues a ruling against Oleg Artyomov to bring him as a defendant in committing crimes under Part 2 of Article 282.2 and Part 1 of Article 282.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

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    Case returned to investigator

    The prosecutor returns the case for additional investigation and elimination of the detected violations. He believes that the case should be reclassified from the article on participation in the activities of an extremist organization to the organization of this activity (part 1 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

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    Art. 282.2 (1) Art. 282.3 (1)

    The prosecutor approves the indictment, according to which Oleg Artyomov is accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization and financing these activities.

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