The Case of Anufriev and Others in Kstovo

Investigator of the Department of Internal Affairs "Kstovsky", Captain of Justice E. A. Ryabkova initiates a criminal case for participation in the activities of an extremist organization.

Judge of the Kstovo City Court Sergey Evdokimov chooses a preventive measure in the form of detention for three detained married couples of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Andrey Mikholap and Vladimir Anufriyev are being held in double cells. There are three women together with Anastasia Anufrieva. The food in the pre-trial detention center is satisfactory.

The criminal case against the six believers is being transferred to the investigative unit of the Main Investigation Department of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Nizhny Novgorod Region. The investigation team is headed by the deputy head of the department, Yevgeniy Mokhnonogov.

The court once again extends the period of detention in the pre-trial detention center. The courtroom is the only place where spouses can see each other. All three couples have been under arrest for more than five months.

The cell where Viktor Chernobaev is being held with another prisoner is warm, has cold water and a small refrigerator. Viktor has good relations with his cellmate and the staff of the pre-trial detention center. He goes for walks and exercises. Although the complete Bible was confiscated from Victor, he was given the New Testament and the Psalter. He also receives letters of support.

Anastasia Anufriyeva is in an 8-bed cell, 7 other women are being held there with her. The room is warm, there is water and a small refrigerator. In January, they were taken out for walks more often. The attitude of the cellmates and the staff of the pre-trial detention facility is generally friendly.

Anastasia has a Bible in the Synodal translation. The believer received 420 letters from relatives and caring people. This makes her happy and helps her not to lose heart.

Anastasia's chronic illness worsened. She needs medication, which she does not receive at the moment, despite the applications she has submitted.

Anastasia Anufrieva, Oksana Mikholap and Alyona Chernobaeva are in pre-trial detention center No. 1 in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

Andrey Mikholap was placed in 16 different cells during his imprisonment. Since May of this year, he has been in a double cell in a special unit, where there is no refrigerator, TV or hot water. There are cockroaches. During the transfer to the special unit, the officers confiscated many permitted things from him, but the believer still treats everyone kindly.

Andrey is allowed daily walks. He is allowed to read the Bible and receive letters of support, although since February their flow has noticeably decreased — now he gets about 12 letters a week. He tries to reply to each one.

Viktor Chernobaev is also being held in a special unit. Double bars are installed on the windows of his cell, which creates certain difficulties: in cold weather, prisoners cannot close the window on their own, and in hot weather they cannot open it.

Viktor receives letters — there are already more than 500 of them, but he admits that he misses simple human association.

Vladimir Anufriev has been in a four-bed cell for 3 months, where everyone except him smoked. One of his cellmates, after talking to him, soon quit smoking. Vladimir's eyesight is deteriorating, but he has glasses. He does not lose optimism, reads the Bible, and the number of letters he receives is close to 800.

At one of the hearings, on the preventive measure, Vladimir said: "Dear court, I have nothing to add, except for one thing: I want to confess my love to my wife. Nastya, I love you very much!" All the believers miss their partners, from whom they already have been separated for a year.