The Case of Vlasov in Prokopyevsk

Investigator of the Department of the FSB of Russia in the Kemerovo region - Kuzbass, senior lieutenant of justice Ivan Sablin makes a decision to initiate a criminal case against 51-year-old Andrei Vlasov, who has a disability. For his faith, he is suspected of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organizing the activities of an extremist organization).

The judge of the Central District Court of Kemerovo, Irina Ivanova, at the request of investigator Sablin, issues permission to conduct searches in Prokopyevsk, including in Vlasov's home.

FSB officers conduct an ORM in the house of the Vlasov spouses, they confiscate electronics and Bibles. A search is also carried out at the suspect's workplace. Andrey is sent to a temporary detention facility (IVS), and his wife Natalya is interrogated in the investigator's office.

Judge of the Central District Court of the city of Kemerovo Natalia Naumova chooses Vlasov as a measure of restraint in the form of house arrest at least until 02.09.2020. He cannot leave the premises except for a 2-hour walk, use the Internet, send and receive postal and telegraph messages by any means of communication, as well as communicate with participants in a criminal case.

Vlasov is filing an appeal with the Central District Court of Kemerovo, asking to cancel the court decision of 14.07.2020 and release him from custody, because he believes that his constitutional right to believe in God is not a continuation of the activities of an organization banned by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.

Vlasov petitions for personal participation in the consideration of the case by the court of appeal.

Deputy Head of the Department of the Federal Security Service of Russia for the Kemerovo Region-Kuzbass M. I. Efimov petitions for the extension of Andrey Vlasov's house arrest until January 2, 2021.

According to Efimov, only house arrest "will ensure the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of the parties to the criminal process, as well as the possibility of further proceedings."

The believer's lawyer draws attention to the fact that Vlasov has a permanent place of residence, is being prosecuted for the first time, is a disabled person of group II and has no intention of hiding from the preliminary investigation and court.

Despite this, the Central District Court of the city of Kemerovo extends Andrey Vlasov's house arrest.

Andrey Vlasov's case is submitted to the Central District Court of the city of Prokopyevsk for consideration by Judge Pavel Kotykhov.

The hearing on the merits of the case begins. The indictment is read out. The believer does not admit guilt, but the court does not allow him to fully explain his position.

The protocols of interrogations of prosecution witnesses are being examined. According to the testimony of one of them, if there is a danger of detention, Jehovah's Witnesses are allegedly obliged to hide from law enforcement officers by any means.

The believer declares that he has no intention of hiding from justice and petitions for a change in the measure of restraint to a recognizance not to leave due to deteriorating health. At his request, the court interrogates the employee of the penitentiary inspectorate who supervises him. He gives Vlasov a positive characterization and confirms that he has never violated the regime of detention under house arrest for the whole year. Nevertheless, the measure of restraint remains unchanged.

A prosecution witness is being questioned. Due to poor health and memory problems, he cannot unequivocally answer many of the judge's questions.

Two other witnesses did not appear at the hearing. Counsel objects to the reading of the transcripts of their interrogations. The judge agrees, but instructs them to be forcibly brought to the next hearing.

Due to the new rules of detention under house arrest, a believer faces a number of difficulties: he cannot pick up registered letters from the court, get a referral to a doctor, etc. Andrey Vlasov asks the court to further explain to him how to observe these measures in specific situations of his real life.

An FSB officer of Prokopyevsk, Karpov, is being interrogated. In his personal opinion, Jehovah's Witnesses are forbidden to gather together, but they are not forbidden to pray.

The court interrogates the secret witness "Reutov". He states that he has not heard from the defendant calls for disrespect for the authorities or the severance of family relations.

Investigator Ivan Sablin is being interrogated. He is summoned because there are disagreements in the testimony of prosecution witnesses given by them during interrogations.

Investigator for particularly important cases of the investigation department for the city of Prokopyevsk of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Kemerovo Region - Kuzbass, Captain of Justice T. V. Zorina initiates a criminal case under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (participation in the activities of a banned organization) against unidentified persons.

The resolution states: "Unidentified persons, acting deliberately, by a group of persons, in agreement with A.V. Vlasov, realizing criminal intent, being in an unidentified place on the territory of the city of Prokopyevsk," participated in the activities of a banned legal entity. This is how the investigation characterizes the peaceful worship of Jehovah's Witnesses.

At 6 o'clock in the morning, investigator Zorina issues a decision to search the 63-year-old resident of Prokopyevsk, Pavel Brilkov. At about 8:00 a.m., the senior investigator of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee Kuzmina comes to his home to carry out investigative actions.

Also, a search is taking place at 46-year-old Yuri Chernykh, the father of a minor child. This is the second search in the Chernoy family. Previously, Brilkov and Chernykh were witnesses in the case of Andrei Vlasov. Now the investigation imputes these men to participate in the activities of a banned organization.

Investigator Zorin interrogates Yuri Chernykh. He uses Article 51 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, which gives him the right not to testify against himself and his loved ones. The investigator hands over to the believer the decision to initiate criminal case No. 12102320012000120 against him. Yuriy is obliged to appear. The investigator is also questioning Pavel Brilkov and his wife. Believers also use Article 51 of the Constitution.

At the request of the lawyer, the court attaches to the case file an extract from Vlasov's outpatient card. The believer notes in his testimony that the stress associated with house arrest has a negative impact on his health. Nevertheless, the court once again extends the house arrest.

Andrey Vlasov asks the court to allow him to visit a doctor because he needs treatment. Judge Pavel Kotykhov dismisses the petition.

The judge attaches medical certificates indicating serious illnesses of the defendant, but extends house arrest for another 3 months without changing the restrictions.

The lawyer re-submits a petition for Andrey Vlasov to visit a doctor. The judge rejects it, stating that the chosen measure of restraint involves a ban on leaving the living quarters, and an ambulance call is provided for the provision of medical care.

A believer reads an excerpt from the book by religious scholar Sergei Ivanenko "About People Who Never Part with the Bible." The judge interrupts the defendant, referring to the fact that "the book itself, not its contents" is recognized as material evidence, and that it can only be put on display. In his opinion, the court does not need to listen to excerpts from this book.

Andrei Vlasov declares: "You are actually depriving me of the opportunity to defend myself." The lawyer supports the position of the defendant, stressing that he has the right to read this book in full.

The defense challenges the judge due to the fact that he restricts the defendant's right to defend himself, which may indicate his interest in the outcome of the process. The judge refuses.

19 people come to support Andrey Vlasov. Four are allowed into the courtroom, the rest are waiting outside the courthouse.

The prosecutor requests a sentence of 8 years and 6 months of imprisonment in a general regime colony.

More than 30 people come to support the believer, 4 are allowed into the meeting room.

In the debate, the defense takes the floor.

Andrey Vlasov is scheduled to deliver his last word and announce the verdict.

Judge Pavel Kotykhov finds Andrey Vlasov guilty and sentences him to 7 years in a penal colony, the believer is sent to a pre-trial detention center directly from the courtroom.

The place of detention of Andrey Vlasov becomes known: Novokuznetsk, pre-trial detention center No. 2 in the Kemerovo region. He can write letters.