Case of Kobeleva in Lesozavodsk

Employees of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, with the support of the FSB, conduct searches in the homes of local believers at at least four addresses. Among the victims are Galina Kobeleva and her son Sergey.

Operational and investigative measures are being carried out within the framework of the criminal case against Yevgeniy Grinenko, who is sent under arrest on the same day.

Acting Head of the Investigation Department for Lesozavodsk of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation O. V. Belyakova initiates a criminal case against Galina Kobeleva under Part 1 (organization), Part 1.1 (recruitment) and Part 2 (participation in the activities of an extremist organization) of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. On the same day, it is merged with the case of Yevhen Grinenko.

Galina Kobeleva is included in the list of terrorists and extremists of Rosfinmonitoring.

Lieutenant Colonel of Justice O. V. Belyakova, Acting Head of the Investigation Department for Lesozavodsk of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Primorsky Territory, chooses a preventive measure against Galina Kobeleva in the form of a written undertaking not to leave the place and proper behavior.

Galina Kobeleva is charged under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, in the final version.

In connection with the temporary serious illness of Galina Kobelev, her case is separated into a separate proceeding.

Kobelev's case goes to the Lesozavodsky District Court of Primorsky Krai.

December 8-9, 2021

The case is being considered by Judge Sergei Galayuda. He asks Galina Kobeleva about her religious views. He is interested in whether she venerates icons, whether she wears a cross, how her religion differs from Orthodoxy, and what kind of Bible she reads.

Galina Kobeleva expresses her attitude to the charges. The investigation accuses the believer of "assisting E. A. Grinenko in organizing meetings of the LRO of Jehovah's Witnesses in Lesozavodsk, acting as a coordinator." In particular, she is accused of maintaining the accounting document flow of the LRO.

Galina replies that after the liquidation of the LRO, there was no need for such work. She also says: "Since 2017, there have been no meetings of the LRO of Jehovah's Witnesses in Lesozavodsk. Worship meetings were held—meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses. I have never assisted or coordinated these worship meetings, because according to the Bible, these are supposed to be done by men. These were meetings of fellow believers or worship services, which are in every denomination and are the right to profess any religion together with others - a right enshrined in Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

The believer draws the court's attention to the actions of the infiltrated FSB agent Mrachko, whose testimony largely formed the basis of the accusation. She emphasizes that he himself took the initiative and asked to study the Bible with him, and also repeatedly said that he wanted to attend worship services.

Kobeleva also refers to the decision of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of 10/28/2021: "Given [his] explanations, it cannot be considered a crime to read the Bible and spiritual literature, talk about one's faith, convene fellow believers for a peaceful, joint confession of the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, when they gather together with others for worship."

Prosecution witnesses are being questioned, including two FSB officers and two elderly parents of one of the defendants in the case, Yevgeny Grinenko.

Another witness for the prosecution is a woman who is interested in the Bible. To all questions, including about the defendant's role in the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses, she answers: "I don't know."

The court is interrogating Yevgeniy Grinenko, Sergey Kobelev and Svetlana Efremova. All of them are accused in the same criminal case, from which the case of Galina Kobeleva was eventually separated. All witnesses use Article 51 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

Prosecution witness Detective Severin testifies. He explains to the court that the operative actions against Kobeleva were carried out in connection with her involvement in the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses.

A prosecution witness is questioned, and the testimony of witnesses who did not appear in court and of a woman who has already died is read out.

The materials of the case are being announced, including the documentation of the legal entity of Jehovah's Witnesses (LRO Jehovah's Witnesses in Lesozavodsk), which ceased to exist in 2017, long before the events imputed to Galina.

State prosecutor Roman Oleshkevich reads out the case materials. Protocols of searches, protocols of inspection of objects, including correspondence in instant messengers and by e-mail, are examined.

The prosecutor continues to read out the materials of the criminal case, including the content of Galina Kobeleva's telephone conversations.

Prosecutor Elena Palagina reads out the materials of the case: Kobelev's correspondence with her daughter in instant messengers, as well as with Yevgeniy Grinenko by e-mail. The court examines the protocol of the search in the defendant's house and information about operational-search activities with the participation of the embedded FSB agent Vladislav Mrachko.

The defendant testifies and reads out her written notes.

At the court session, the arguments of the parties are held. The prosecutor requests a suspended sentence of 6 years for the defendant, with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to leadership and participation in the work of public and religious organizations for a period of 3 years, and restriction of liberty for a period of 1 year.

Galina Kobeleva gives her last word.

The Lesozavodsky District Court of Primorsky Krai increases Galina's probationary period by 1 month.