Photo collage: Vladimir Kochnev, Alexander Suvorov

Criminal Investigation and Trial

Arrests in Orenburg Did Not Intimidate Believers

Orenburg Region

About 100 people were not afraid to come to the Orenburg Regional Court on June 6, 2018 to support fellow believers who were thrown into prison for their faith. With tears on their faces, they boldly looked into the eyes of the judges. Judges and prosecutors sent believers to jail with their heads down.

Three weeks earlier, when the Industrial District Court of Orenburg ordered the arrest of Vladimir Kochnev and Alexander Suvorov, the hearing lasted from 11 a.m. until almost midnight. All this time, about 50 people were in the building and in the courtyard of the court. From the window of the courtroom it was clear that some were holding children in their arms. Someone on a bicycle brought hot food. People did not disperse to catch a glimpse of how those arrested one by one would be put into an escort car, and shout words of support to them: "Hold on!", "We are with you!", "We will support your girls!"

After brutal incursions into the homes of 19 families, as well as detentions, interrogations, threats and the use of physical force, the believers found the courage to come to court and were ready to look into the eyes of their offenders - the employee of the Center for Counteracting Extremism Beloshenko, employees of the FSB, the Investigative Committee and the prosecutor's office.

With the permission of Alexander Suvorov, a letter written to him in the pre-trial detention center by his wife and daughter was read out in court. "Daddy, I love you very much and I want you to come back as soon as possible. When you come back, we will tell you a lot of interesting things. Everyone supports us. I met a lot of people. We miss you very, very much. Mom promised that before you come back, we'll buy a dog, a Jack Russell," written in a child's hand, and circled with a felt-tip pen: "You're the best dad in the world." "Sasha," writes Natalia Suvorova, "please don't worry about us at all. There is a sea of love and support around us!"

Earlier, the Supreme Court of Russia approved the liquidation and prohibition of all Jehovah's Witnesses organizations registered in Russia, but the constitutional right of citizens to freely practice their religion, both individually and in community with others, was not abolished. Nevertheless, Vladimir Kochnev and Aleksandr Suvorov are accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization, since law enforcement officers mistakenly mistake the joint religion of citizens for participation in an extremist organization. Vladimir Kochnev and Alexander Suvorov are in the PKU pre-trial detention center No. 3 of the Federal Penitentiary Service for the Orenburg Region.

Case of Kochnev and Others in Orenburg

Case History
In May 2018, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation opened a criminal case against Vladimir Kochnev, Vladislav Kolbanov, Pavel Lekontsev, Sergey Logunov and Nikolay Zhugin. Believers from Orenburg were accused of organizing and financing an extremist organization’s activities and participating in it because of friendly meetings in a café. After the searches, three men were released on recognizance not to leave, and two were detained. Kochnev spent 76 days in pre-trial detention and 72 days under house arrest, while Kolbanov spent 149 days under house arrest. In December 2019, the case went to court, but a month later it was returned to the prosecutor’s office due to the vague nature of the charges. The retrial of the case by another judge began in February 2021. The accusation is based on the testimony of the agent V. Yudin. In August 2023, the judge sentenced the believers to suspended sentences: Logunov and Zhugin — to two and a half years, Kochnev — to two years and eight months, Lekontsev — to three years, and Kolbanov — to three and a half years. The appellate court upheld the verdict.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Orenburg Region
Locality:
Orenburg
Suspected of:
according to the investigation, together with others he conducted religious services, which is interpreted as “organising and participating in the activity of an extremist organisation” (with reference to the decision of the Russian Supreme Court on the liquidation of all 396 registered organisations of Jehovah’s Witnesses)
Court case number:
11802530021000017
Initiated:
May 14, 2018
Current case stage:
The verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Orenburg Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2), 282.3 (1), 282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-1/2023 (1-2/2022; 1-139/2021; 1-62/2020; 1-501/2019)
Court:
Промышленный районный суд г. Оренбурга
Judge:
Диана Судоргина
Case History