Case of Chernov in Tavrichanka

Case History

In November 2022, while admiring the beauty of the national park “Land of the Leopard” with friends, Viktor Chernov, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses from the village of Tavrichanka, learned that his home was searched. The next day he and his son, who is not one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, were summoned to a neighboring village to be interrogated by the Investigative Committee. There he learned that a criminal case had been initiated against him on charges of extremism. His son was released, but Viktor was detained and placed in a temporary detention center for one day. On the following day, the court placed the believer under house arrest, which lasted until March 2023. Chernov was added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of extremists, and all his accounts were blocked. Due to the restrictions imposed on him, the believer could not pay for medical treatment or visit doctors, so his health deteriorated. In June 2023, the believer was placed under a recognizance agreement.
Timeline

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    December 2, 2018

    The security forces begin operational-search measures against Viktor Chernov and several other Jehovah's Witnesses - an audio recording of the services is being made.

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    November 12, 2020 Search
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    November 16, 2022 Case initiated

    The Chernov case is separated from the Lonshakov case. Viktor is charged with organizing the activities of an extremist organization.

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    November 18, 2022
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    November 19, 2022

    Viktor Chernov comes on a summons to the Investigative Committee in the village of Volno-Nadezhdinskoye. He was detained and taken to the temporary detention center in the city of Artyom. Victor's son is also being interrogated.

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    November 20, 2022 House arrest

    The investigator and the prosecutor petition for Viktor's detention. Judge of the Nadezhdinskiy District Court Diana Merzlyakova sends Chernov under house arrest for 1 month and 27 days.

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    March 15, 2023 Prohibition of certain actions

    The court releases Viktor Chernov from house arrest and imposes a ban on certain actions.

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    May 8, 2023 Prohibition of certain actions

    Viktor Chernov is experiencing difficulties due to the restrictions imposed on him: he cannot receive timely medical care. The believer suffers from a number of serious diseases, including diabetes mellitus and a tumor in the abdominal cavity, he recently injured his knee. To receive proper treatment, he needs to travel outside the village, but the investigator does not always satisfy Victor's requests. Complaints about these actions are also rejected. Chernov's health is deteriorating. In addition, visits to doctors and treatment are expensive, but since Viktor was included in the Rosfinmonitoring list, all his bank cards are blocked, and he is unable to work.

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    June 14, 2023 Recognizance agreement

    The Nadezhdinskiy District Court lifts the ban on certain actions from Viktor Chernov and chooses a new measure of restraint for him - a written undertaking not to leave.