Photo: Invasion of believers in Polyarny (2018)

Criminal Investigation and Trial

Another Prisoner for Faith in Vladivostok

Primorye Territory

On July 30, 2018, 44-year-old Dmitry Barmakin, who came from Crimea to Primorsky Krai to take care of the sick mother of his wife Elena, who lives in Nakhodka (Primorsky Territory), was sent to the pre-trial detention center for 2 months. Dmitry is suspected of practicing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses.

The case against Dmitry Barmakin was initiated on July 27, 2018. It is being investigated by investigator G.Y. Tarasenko from the Investigative Committee of Russia in the Pervorechensky district of Vladivostok.

On July 28, 2018, at approximately 7 a.m., a group of armed masked men broke into the home of a 90-year-old woman who was visiting the Barmakins. The spouses were detained and taken to Vladivostok. Yelena was released, threatening that she "will be next" and "will go under arrest after her husband." Dmitriy was charged under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organization of an extremist organization).

On July 30, 2018, Olga Barabash, judge of the Pervorechensky District Court of Vladivostok, sent Dmitry Barmakin to jail until September 27, 2018.

In total, at least three criminal cases have been initiated in the Primorye Territory against citizens who are suspected of practicing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. The case of Valentin Osadchuk is being investigated by the Investigative Department of the FSB of Russia in Vladivostok. Another case, during which a military operation was carried out in the village of Razdolnoye (Primorsky Territory), is being investigated by the Investigative Department for the Nadezhdinsky District of the Investigative Committee of Russia.

Law enforcement agencies across the country mistakenly interpret peaceful meetings of believers as "extremist activity." Dozens of human rights defenders, as well as the Human Rights Council under the President of the Russian Federation , expressed concern about the growing religious repression.

Barmakin's case in Vladivostok

Case History
Dmitry Barmakin came to Vladivostok from the Crimea to take care of his sick mother-in-law and her elderly mother. In July 2018, law enforcement officers in masks and with weapons broke into their house with a search. Dmitriy was arrested, and he spent 1.5 years in jail. The judge returned the criminal case to the prosecutor due to the ambiguity of the charges. In April 2021, the case went to court again, and 7 months later, Judge Stanislav Salnikov fully acquitted Dmitry Barmakin. In April 2022, the regional court overturned this verdict and sent the case for a new trial. As a result, the believer received 8 years in prison. In August 2023, an appeal overturned this verdict as well, released Barmakin, and returned the case for a third trial to the court of first instance. This decision was appealed by the prosecutor, and the cassation sent the case to a different composition of the court of appeal, which upheld the guilty sentence: 8 years in a penal colony.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Primorye Territory
Locality:
Vladivostok
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, together with others, he conducted worship services, which is interpreted as "organizing the activities of an extremist organization" (with reference to the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation to liquidate all 396 registered organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses)
Court case number:
11802050005000051
Initiated:
July 27, 2018
Current case stage:
The verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate for the Pervorechensky District of Vladivostok of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Primorsky Territory
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-43/2023 (1-391/2022; 1-305/2021; 1-21/2020; 1-388/2019)
[i18n] Рассматривает по существу:
Первореченский районный суд г. Владивостока
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Лариса Смоленкова
Case History