The Case of Rygaev and Pyzhov in Omsk

Senior investigator of the Investigative Committee, Captain of Justice Maria Volkova initiates a criminal case against Leonid Pyzhov and Sergey Rygaev.

Early in the morning in Omsk, security forces armed with assault rifles conduct searches at least 7 addresses.

7 law enforcement officers come to the apartment of the Rygaev spouses, accompanied by investigator Saltanat Zhansakova. At this time, Sergey is detained on the street on his way to work. According to the believer, three FSB officers beat him in a police van and pulled a bag over his head, demanding to give him the password for his phone. Then he is brought home. After the search, the spouses are taken to the Investigative Committee for interrogation.

During a search in the Pyzhovs' apartment, the security forces hit Leonid in the face, demanding to name the password from the smartphone. The spouse is at work at this time.

The security forces break into the house of two other women. They, as well as their elderly parents, become ill, they are allowed to drink medicine. After the search, the whole family is taken for interrogation.

In the apartment of a 52-year-old believer, the security forces, among other things, tear up children's crafts and check their contents. The woman is taken away for interrogation, later released. Her passport is confiscated, which is why she cannot seek medical help and restore her SIM card.

In another case, at least 10 security officials searched the apartment of a 62-year-old believer.

In total, on this day, about 15 believers and their families are taken to the Investigative Committee for interrogation. After interrogation, the 67-year-old woman becomes ill, she asks to call an ambulance, but instead she is taken home.

Leonid Pyzhov and Sergey Rygaev are placed in a temporary detention facility.

Judge of the Kuibyshevsky District Court of Omsk Ruslan Khasanshin, at the request of investigator Maria Volkova, chooses a measure of restraint for Leonid Pyzhov and Sergey Rygaev in the form of detention until April 28, 2024. They are quarantined in solitary confinement.

Believers are still in solitary isolation quarantine cells of the basement type with high humidity and lack of lighting.

Sergey receives letters from his wife with a long delay, but other letters come to both men on time. Rygaev and Pyzhov were denied visits to their wives.

Sergey Rygaev and Leonid Pyzhov are transferred from the pre-trial detention center to house arrest.

Judge Aleksey Luksha refuses to satisfy the petition of the investigator of the Investigative Committee Saltanat Zhansakova to extend the term of detention of believers in the pre-trial detention center. Rygaev and Pyzhov are released from custody in the courtroom.

Now believers are forbidden to leave their homes, communicate with witnesses in a criminal case and use means of communication.

The court commutes the preventive measure for Leonid Pyzhov and Sergey Rygaev to a ban on certain actions.

The criminal case against Leonid Pyzhov and Sergey Rygaev is submitted to the Kirov District Court.

Chirkov, witness for the prosecution, who attended meetings for worship of Jehovah's Witnesses until 2017, is being interrogated. He expresses a negative attitude towards this religion and says that after 2017 he did not meet with the defendants.

Judge Borodin repeatedly dismisses questions from the defense and actually forbids the defendants to participate in the interrogation of the witness. When the lawyer tries to express his position, Borodin reprimands him, calling it "bickering with the court."

At the court session, witnesses are being questioned by the defense. Sergey Rygaev's wife, Oksana, says that at work her husband is known as an honest and hardworking employee: Sergey was awarded the Order of Honorary Worker of the Plant and once was awarded a trip abroad. She also describes him as a caring husband and father, tells the court about the upbringing that she and Sergei gave to their son. He graduated from school with a gold medal and became a responsible adult. The judge commented on Oksana's testimony: "He was a father, what a real father should be!"

Tatyana Pyzhova described her husband Leonid as a kind and attentive person. She confirmed her words with an episode when Leonid saved a stranger from death by giving him artificial respiration before the arrival of an ambulance.

The defense was denied the interrogation of another witness.