The Case of Serdtseva and Others in Shakhunya

Case History

In February 2024, the Ministry of Internal Affairs initiated a criminal case against unidentified persons for participating in the activity of an extremist organization. At the time, searches were carried out at 7 addresses in the cities of Shakhunya and Gorodets and the village of Vakhtan. Nina Smirnova, Larisa Serdtseva, and Zhanna Zhavoronkova became suspects. In November 2024, the believers were prosecuted for participating in the activities of an extremist organization. Zhanna’s interrogation took place in the hospital room where she had been after suffering a stroke. The case went to court in January 2025.
Timeline

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    Search Interrogation Elderly Minors Case initiated Art. 282.2 (2) Health risk

    The deputy head of the investigation department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Lieutenant Colonel of Justice S. N. Galyamov, initiates a criminal case against unidentified persons for participation in the activities of an extremist organization.

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    Interrogation

    The investigator summons Larisa Serdtseva and Nina Smirnova for questioning as suspects. They ask to postpone the investigation until an agreement is concluded with a lawyer, their request is granted.

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    Art. 282.2 (2)

    T. A. Smirnova, senior investigator of the Investigative Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the city of Shakhunya, charges Larisa Serdtseva and Nina Smirnova with committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

    The indictment ruling states that they "held conversations and sermons with the residents of the city of Shakhunya, and also 'participated in religious meetings.'

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    Art. 282.2 (2) Health risk

    The head of the investigation group, investigator Smirnova, in the ward of the Shakhun Central District Hospital, interrogates Zhanna Zhavoronkova, who is there after suffering a stroke. The investigator announces to the believer that she has been charged under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

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    Case went to court

    The case is referred to the Shakhun Inter-District Court. It will be considered by judge Dmitry Kameko.

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    Hearing in a court of the first instance

    The prosecutor reads out the charge. According to him, the guilt of the defendants lies in the fact that, "being in a place not established by the investigation... acting as a group of persons, [they] participated in meetings ... held through... Internet via videoconferencing using devices and software unidentified by the investigation", as well as that they "conducted conversations and sermons with a resident of the city of Shakhunya".

    The court rejects several petitions of the defendants, including for more time to prepare a response to the charges. Believers do not agree with the charge and do not consider themselves guilty of extremism.

    Despite the objections of all participants, the court granted the request of the editorial office of the local newspaper to film the process. More than 20 people come to support the believers.

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