Photo: V. Kochnev and A. Suvorov with lawyers in Orenburg (August 3, 2018)

Photo: V. Kochnev and A. Suvorov with lawyers in Orenburg (August 3, 2018)

Photo: V. Kochnev and A. Suvorov with lawyers in Orenburg (August 3, 2018)

Criminal Investigation and Trial

In Orenburg and Magadan, three believers were transferred from the pre-trial detention center to house arrest

Orenburg Region,   Magadan Region

On August 3, 2018, Inna Yangubayeva, judge of the Leninsky District Court of Orenburg, issued a decision on the election of Vladimir Kochnev and Alexander Suvorov as a measure of restraint in the form of house arrest. At the same time, as a result of an appeal hearing in the Magadan Regional Court, Konstantin Petrov was transferred from custody to house arrest.

Vladimir Kochnev, a master of metal products from Orenburg, spent about 78 days behind bars, starting from May 17, 2018 (biography).

The master of making keys from Orenburg Alexander Suvorov spent about 78 days behind bars, starting from May 17, 2018 (biography).

Konstantin Petrov, a 31-year-old resident of Magadan, was separated from his wife for about 64 days, from May 30, 2018. (Konstantin Petrov is married, works as an electrician and home appliance repairman, and enjoys drawing, sculpting, and playing the guitar.)

Russian law enforcement officers mistakenly mistake the joint religion of citizens for participation in the activities of an extremist organization. Believers insist on their complete innocence.

The Case of Kochnev and Others in Orenburg

Case History
In May 2018, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation initiated a criminal case against Vladimir Kochnev, Vladislav Kolbanov, Pavel Lekontsev, Sergey Logunov and Nikolay Zhugin. The believers from Orenburg were accused of organizing and financing the activity of an extremist organization and participating in it. This was because of meetings with friends in a café. After their homes were searched, three men were released under recognizance agreements, and two were detained. Kochnev spent 76 days in pretrial 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 charge is based on the testimony of the undercover agent V. Yudin. In August 2023, the judge gave the believers suspended sentences: Logunov and Zhugin — 2.5 years, Kochnev — 2 years and 8 months, Lekontsev — 3 years, and Kolbanov — 3.5 years. The court of appeal upheld the verdict.
Timeline

Persons in case

Kochnev
Vladimir
Kolbanov
Vladislav
Lekontsev
Pavel
Logunov
Sergey
Zhugin
Nikolay

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)
Court case number:
1-1/2023 (1-2/2022; 1-139/2021; 1-62/2020; 1-501/2019)
Court:
Promyshlenniy District Court of the City of Orenburg
Judge:
Diana Sudorgina
Case History
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