Case of the Kosovs in Cherkessk

An inspection of the apartment of Nikolay and Larisa Kosov is underway, in which 5 people participate. Law enforcers confiscate believers' laptops, phones and personal records. At this time, Larisa's daughter is also at home. After that, the three believers are taken for interrogation to the Center for Combating Extremism. They enjoy the right not to testify against themselves and their loved ones. The interrogation is being conducted by investigators Umar Salpogarov and Sergey Dolzhenko.

Major of Justice R. N. Tazhikenov, senior investigator of the investigation department of the FSB of Russia for the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, opened a criminal case against Nikolay and Larisa Kosov. They are accused of "participation in the activities of a religious association, in respect of which the court made an enforceable decision to liquidate it in connection with the implementation of extremist activities."

The investigator summons the Kosovs for questioning and presents them with a decision to bring them into custody. During the interrogation, the investigator asks if the couple know Albert Batchaev, whom he charged with extremism in 2020. Spouses are released on recognizance agreement.

Investigator R. Tazhikenov summons Nikolay Kosov for interrogation and hands him a ruling to initiate a new criminal case dated April 13, 2025 — for involving others in the activity of an extremist organization.

The case goes to the Cherkessk City Court and is transferred to Judge Oleg Tereshchenko.

The judge explains the rights of the defendants. The Kosovs file a motion to refuse the lawyers appointed by the court. Nikolay and Larisa explain that since the case relates to their religious beliefs, no one knows better than them what they believe in. More than 30 people come to support the couple.

About 20 people are present at the court hearing in the case of Larisa and Nikolay Kosov. The prosecutor reads out the indictment. The defendants declare that they do not admit guilt, after which they read out their attitude to the charge.

Witness E. Oncheva, who had previously communicated with the defendants on biblical topics, is being questioned. She characterizes the Kosovs as ordinary people without bad habits and reports that they did not call her to violence and other illegal activities. According to her, the meetings were informal: "They just came to drink tea, read the Bible, told something."

During the interrogation, contradictions were revealed between her testimony in court and during the preliminary investigation. At the request of the prosecutor, previously given testimony is read out, which Oncheva confirms.

The defense comments on the indictment, drawing attention to the fact that the defendants are charged with invoking Article 51 of the RF Constitution during interrogation. In the opinion of the lawyers, this is discrimination.

The prosecutor reads from four volumes of the case materials (reports, expert conclusions, protocols, and other documents) and completes the presentation of written evidence.

The court is questioning a witness for the prosecution — Ministry of Internal Affairs investigator Irina Khutova. She handed over an audio recording of conversations between her mother and a woman — one of Jehovah's Witnesses — to the Center for Counteracting Extremism.

According to Khutova, she bought a voice recorder in order to "record conversations between her children, who do not get along with each other." The witness explains that in addition to this, her mother "used the device to record conversations with some woman... about religion."

Khutova says she does not know the Kosovs or the woman whose voice is recorded on the device. She also does not remember the content of the recordings. When asked by the lawyer about the reasons for her numerous "I do not remember" replies, the witness explains: "That is how my memory is."

Khutova had previously testified in the case of Yelena Menchikova.

Witnesses for the defense, Larisa Kosova’s relatives, are giving testimony. Her cousin, who holds different religious views, gives a positive assessment of the Kosov couple: "They interact with people without any scandals; they do not pressure anyone."

Larisa’s brother reports that he has never heard believers call for extremism or refuse medical assistance. Asked how he would describe the defendants, the witness responds: "I cannot say anything bad. The Kosovs have always treated people kindly. They never deceive anyone. I have never heard anything negative from them about others."