The Case of Pushkov and Others in Tomsk

Case History

After searches in Tomsk in March 2025, three married couples of Jehovah’s Witnesses were detained. The Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case for organizing the activities of an extremist organization and participating in these activities. The next day, the court sent Vladimir Pushkov, Aisula Tastaibekova, Yevgeniy Abramov and his wife Yana, Yevgeniy Dodolin and his wife Tatyana to a pre-trial detention center. In May, after another series of searches, Anton Novopashin, Yuriy Pichugin, Andrey Plekhanov and Gonhi Jahi, a student from Côte d’Ivoire, ended up in the pre-trial detention center.
Timeline

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    Search Detention center Prosecution of several family members Case initiated Temporary detention facility Art. 282.2 (1) Art. 282.2 (2)

    Homes of Jehovah's Witnesses are searched in Tomsk, after which three married couples are detained.

    The criminal case is initiated by the investigator for especially important cases of the second department for the investigation of especially important cases of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation in the Tomsk Region, Captain of Justice Lebedev V. S.

    Yevgeniy Dodolin reports that he was detained at 11:00, although the case was initiated and accepted for proceedings only at 16:00.

    Vladimir Pushkov is accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization, and Aisulu Tastaibekova, Yevgeniy and Yana Abramovs, Yevgeniy and Tatyana Dodolins are accused of participating in the activities of this organization.

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    Detention center

    Judge of the Kirovskiy District Court of Tomsk Maria Tynyanaya sends all six believers to a pre-trial detention center for a period of 2 months.

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    Case initiated Art. 282.2 (2)

    Vyacheslav Lebedev, investigator of the Investigative Committee, initiates criminal cases against Anton Novopashin, Yuriy Pichugin, Andrey Plekhanov and Gonhi Djachi.

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    Search Interrogation Detention center Art. 282.2 (2) Health risk
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    Detention center

    The court sends Novopashin, Pichugin, Plekhanov and Djachi to a pretrial detention center. The day before, the believers were charged with extremism.

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    Detention center

    Anton Novopashin is transferred to solitary confinement. According to the believer, the cell is very small — about 2 by 2 meters. He has all necessary things with him. It is cold in the cell and there is no hot water but before the transfer he managed to receive warm clothes.

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    Detention center

    The investigator denies Yevgeniy Dodolin's mother calls and visits to her son. In the detention center, he undergoes medical examination and is given some medicines. Despite the difficulties, he remains friendly. There are five other people with him in the cell and they have a good relationship.

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    Detention center Prosecution of several family members Letters

    Vladimir Pushkov and his wife Aysulu are having a hard time being separated from each other. Reading the Bible and walks help them to stay positive. Vladimir does exercises and keeps his cell clean. Aysulu does breathing exercises and takes medications prescribed by the doctor, as she suffers from osteoporosis. She has pain in her hip and her spine. She is also allergic to tobacco smoke.

    Anton Novopashin is trying to keep in good physical shape. He has a Bible; he receives letters and parcels.

    Yevgeniy Abramov caught a cold — it is cold in the special unit.

    Tatyana Dodolina reads a lot; replies to letters. She has started studying a foreign language.

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