Case of Zayshchuk in Vladivostok

Case History

In April 2018, the Federal Security Service of Russia for the Primorye Territory opened a criminal case against Jehovah’s Witnesses from Vladivostok. Believers were searched. Valentin Osadchuk spent 9 months in pre-trial detention and 77 days under house arrest. In April 2019, he was accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization, and 6 elderly women—Lyubov Galaktionova, Nailya Kogay, Nina Purge, Nadezhda Anoykina, Raisa Usanova and Yelena Zayshchuk—were accused of participating in it. Soon the case was received by the Leninsky District Court, but a month later the judge returned it to the prosecutor. This decision was upheld twice by the appellate court. Since January 2021, the case has been re-examined in the same court by Maksim Anufriyev. With regard to Zayshchuk, the case was suspended due to her advanced age and state of health.

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    April 9, 2018 Case initiated

    The Investigative Department of the FSB of Russia for the Primorsky Territory is initiating a criminal case on extremism. One of the defendants is Valentin Osadchuk.

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    April 19, 2018 Search

    As part of the criminal case, a series of searches are taking place in Vladivostok, during which FSB officers interrogate 83-year-old Yelena Zaishchuk, 66-year-old Nailya Kogay and 42-year-old Valentin Osadchuk. Law enforcement officers take a written undertaking not to leave the place from elderly women, and Osadchuk was detained for 48 hours.

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    April 23, 2018 Detention center

    The Frunzensky District Court of Vladivostok sends Valentin Osadchuk to a pre-trial detention center.

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    April 27, 2018

    Valentin Osadchuk was charged with participation in the activities of an organization banned by a court decision.

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    January 18, 2019 House arrest

    The Primorsky Regional Court softens the measure of restraint and transfers Osadchuk to house arrest until March 9, 2019.

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    March 4, 2019 House arrest

    The Frunzensky District Court extends the term of Osadchuk's house arrest for a month, that is, until April 9. The court also relaxed a number of prohibitions, allowing Valentin a 2-hour walk and allowing him to see some relatives.

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    April 1, 2019

    Tunyk, a senior investigator of the Directorate of the FSB Directorate for the Primorsky Territory, changes the charge - now Osadchuk is charged not with participation, but with organizing the activities of a banned community.

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    April 5, 2019 Recognizance agreement

    Senior investigator of the Investigative Department for the Primorsky Territory Tunyk softens the measure of restraint for Osadchuk from house arrest to recognizance not to leave.

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    April 16, 2019
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    April 17, 2019

    Yelena Zaishchuk and six other women aged 61 to 84, namely Nadezhda Anoykina, Lyubov Galaktionova, Naila Kogai, Nadezhda Anoykina, Nina Purga and Raisa Usanova, have been charged with extremism.

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    November 12, 2019
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    June 1, 2020 Court of Cassation

    Judge of the Ninth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction Yevgeny Zheleznov cancels the appeal decision in the case of Osadchuk and others and sends the case for a new appeal to the Primorsky Regional Court.

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    June 29, 2020 Court of Appeal

    An appeal hearing is being held in the Primorsky Regional Court. Prosecutor V. A. Tymoshenko speaks on behalf of the prosecution. The Court refuses to accept the decision of the UN Working Group on the detention of Russian Jehovah's Witnesses and points out that it would be more appropriate to use it in the court of first instance when considering the case on the merits.

    The court shall issue a decision to return the case to the prosecutor.

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    December 16, 2020 Court of Cassation

    The Ninth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Vladivostok, chaired by Judge Natalia Khromina, satisfies the prosecutor's request to return the case to the prosecutor's office. The case of Osadchuk and others is referred to the court of first instance for consideration on the merits.

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    January 19, 2021 Case went to court

    The criminal case against Valentin Osadchuk and 6 elderly believers is transferred to the Leninsky District Court of Vladivostok and appointed to Judge Maxim Anufriev.

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    February 19, 2021

    Due to the serious illness of Elena Zayshchuk, the case against her was suspended.