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Criminal Investigation and Trial

In Kamchatka, an appeals court released spouses arrested for their faith

Kamchatka Territory

On August 9 and 10, 2018, Mikhail and Elena Popov, who were arrested in Vilyuchinsk (Kamchatka Territory) on suspicion of practicing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, were released from arrest by an appeal decision of the Kamchatka Regional Court. Mikhail spent 11 days behind bars, Yelena - 4 days plus 7 days under house arrest.

On the morning of July 30, 2018, a series of searches were conducted in the homes of citizens selected on the basis of their attitude to religion in Vilyuchinsk. The Popovs were charged under Part 1 of Article 282.2 and Part 1.1. Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organization of an extremist organization and involvement in the activities of an extremist organization). On August 1, 2018, the Vilyuchinsky City Court chose a measure of restraint in the form of detention for 56-year-old Mikhail Popov. Two days later, his wife Yelena was placed under house arrest.

Appeals were filed against the decisions. On August 9, 2018, Olga Alekseeva, judge of the Kamchatka Regional Court, overturned the decision to detain Mikhail Popov by an appeal decision. On August 10, Judge Yevgeny Kirillov overturned the decision to elect house arrest to Yelena Popova.

Russian law enforcement officers mistakenly mistake the joint religion of citizens for participation in the activities of an extremist organization. Prominent public figures of Russia, as well as the Human Rights Council under the President of the Russian Federation, have already drawn attention to this problem. Believers insist on their complete innocence.

Case of the Popovs in Vilyuchinsk

Case History
In July 2018, mass searches took place in Kamchatka. Armed FSB officers arrested Mikhail and Yelena Popov from Vilyuchinsk. The couple spent 11 and 5 days in the temporary detention facility, respectively. The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against the Popovs under Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. According to the prosecution, the couple organized the activities of an extremist organization and involved local residents in it. This is how the investigation interpreted participation in worship services and discussion of the Bible with several people who feigned interest in it. The case went to court in September 2019. At one of the hearings, Judge Aleksandr Ishchenko [called] (/en/news/2019/12/1464.html) “extremist statements” a reference to the fact that in World War II Catholics and Protestants from some European countries shot at their fellow believers from other countries. In February 2020, the court softened the article of the charges and imposed fines on the believers: Mikhail 350 thousand rubles, and Yelena 300 thousand rubles. The appeal reduced the amount to 250 thousand rubles each.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Kamchatka Territory
Locality:
Vilyuchinsk
Suspected of:
according to the investigation he participated in religious services, which is interpreted as organising and involving others in the activities 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:
11802300003000023
Initiated:
July 25, 2018
Current case stage:
The verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the Closed Administrative Territorial Unit of the city of Vilyuchinsk of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Kamchatka Territory
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-95/2019
Case History