The Case of Khorikov and Others in Surgut

Investigator of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug Stepan Tkach initiates a criminal case for faith under Part 1 and Part 2 of Article 282.2. Innocent victims of law enforcement officers are: Yevgeny Kozak, Artur Severinchik, Sergey Loginov, Evgeny Fedin, Yevgeny Kayryak, Vyacheslav Boronos, Artem Kim, Alexey Plekhov, Savely Gargalyk, Sergey Volosnikov, Igor Trifonov, Viktor Fefilov, Timofey Zhukov, Leonid Rysikov, Igor Kobotov, Grigory Ozhiganov, Pavel Romashov, Vasily Burenescu, Viola Shepel, Ilhom Aminzhanov, Igor Petrov.

The case is accepted for proceedings by the investigator for especially important cases of the 1st Investigative Directorate of the 4th Investigative Directorate in Yekaterinburg of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation Alexander Guselnikov.

Lieutenant Colonel A. V. Guselnikov, investigator for particularly important cases of the First Investigation Department of the Fourth Investigative Directorate located in Yekaterinburg of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, issued a decision to initiate a criminal case under Part 1 of Article 282.3 of the Criminal Code against Aminzhanov, Boronos, Burenescu, Gargalyk, Zhukov, Kayryak, Kim, Kobotov, Kozak, Loginov, Petrov, Plekhov, Romashov, Rysikov, Trifonov and Fefilov. The case is combined into one proceeding with the one initiated earlier under Part 1 and Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

As part of the case of Yevgeny Kozak, the Leninsky District Court of Yekaterinburg ordered a search of a family of Jehovah's Witnesses in Maikop (Republic of Adygea). Then the spouses are taken for interrogation and released in the evening.

The judge of the Leninsky District Court of Yekaterinburg, Irina Tsybulskaya, makes a decision to allow a search in the home of 65-year-old Valentina Alekseeva.

Valentina Alekseeva and other believers are being searched.

D. N. Rumyantsev, Senior Investigator for Particularly Important Cases of the First Investigation Department of the Fourth Investigation Department (located in the city of Yekaterinburg), makes decisions on the involvement of Valentina Alekseeva, Yuri and Roman Khorikov as accused. The rulings state that believers, "acting on the grounds of religious hatred, intolerance and discord, with the aim of promoting the exclusivity, superiority of the followers of the religious teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses and the inferiority of other citizens on the basis of their attitude to religion, made a joint and agreed decision to commit ... the activities of an extremist organization."

Investigator Rumyantsev prosecutes Kirill Severinchik as a defendant under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

According to the investigation, Kirill, together with his fellow believers, "with the help of verbal forms of manipulation of consciousness" of a certain "Mironov A.E.", tried to attract him to their faith. By "verbal manipulation," the investigator means "prayer reading," "Bible study," and "rhetorical questions."

The case against Yevgeny Kozak is separated into a separate proceeding.

The case goes to the Surgut City Court and is transferred to Judge Alexei Koryakin.

Judge Aleksey Koryakin announces that the trial will be held behind closed doors. The prosecutor begins to announce the indictment.

The hearings are held behind closed doors, but about 15 people still come to the courthouse to support the defendants.

The court is examining the case materials. Of the 100 volumes, about 70 have been reviewed.

The court is reviewing video recordings of meetings for worship. In one of them, there is a discussion on how to behave toward those who offend or act insultingly. Bible counsel is given: “Never stop loving your enemies and praying for those who persecute you.”

While watching the recording of another meeting for worship, the prosecutor draws attention to the unity of those who gathered, interpreting it as a continuation of the activity of the liquidated legal entity and involving others in it, including Mironov.

Witness Aleksey Mironov is being questioned. He states that he has been acquainted with Jehovah's Witnesses since 2016–2017 and lives next door to Alekseyeva. According to Mironov, he himself began communicating with the believers in 2018 because he "was interested." Later, he approached the FSB with a statement expressing willingness to participate in operational-investigative measures.

When asked questions by the defense, Witness Mironov repeatedly answers that he remembers almost nothing. He reports that he did not hear any threats, calls for violence, collection of money, or refusals of medical treatment.

Mironov cannot describe any specific statements or actions that would indicate that anyone was being involved in extremist activity. In a number of instances, the witness says he draws conclusions based on materials from the investigation.

Kirill Severinchik requests that the court obtain documents confirming that he sustained bodily injuries during the torture in February 2019. The court grants the motion.

Valentina Alekseeva gives testimony. She recounts that the informant Mironov began studying the Bible on his own initiative and came to her home without an invitation. "And now, on this basis, I am being charged with persuading (involving) Mironov A.Ye. in the activity of a liquidated legal entity," says Alekseeva.

"Being one of Jehovah's Witnesses is not membership in a party or organization — it is the condition of a person's heart; therefore, there is no need to join anything," the believer adds.

Yuriy Khorikov gives testimony. "The name 'Jehovah's Witnesses' means that we bear witness about God, his qualities, and his purposes regarding people and the earth. This has nothing to do with recruiting, coercing, or involving others in a religious association." He explains that meetings for worship, studying the Bible, and fellowship among believers are ordinary religious practices not connected with managing any organization.

The prosecutor is requesting actual prison terms for the believers: Yuriy Khorikov — 8 years, Roman Khorikov — 7.5 years, Kirill Severinchik — 6 years, and for 68-year-old Valentina Alekseeva — 5 years in a general regime penal colony. The woman has a son with a disability from childhood, who requires constant care and is dependent on her; there is no one else to look after him. For Yuriy, the prosecutor is also requesting an additional fine of 900,000 rubles.