A new criminal case and house arrest of two believers in the Perm region

On September 17, 2018, in Perm and other cities of the Perm Territory, such as Gubakha and Ocher, searches were carried out in the homes of citizens who are suspected of professing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. Several citizens were detained and interrogated, including 77-year-old Boris Burylov. According to preliminary data, after three days of detention in the detention center, 50-year-old Igor Turik and 51-year-old Viktor Kuchkov were placed under house arrest.

A criminal case against these citizens was initiated on September 7, 2018 by an investigator for especially important cases of the Investigative Department of the Federal Security Service of Russia in the Perm Territory. Turik, Kuchkov and Burylov are charged with violating Article 282.2(1) (organization of an extremist community). According to available information, the security services tapped their phones and conducted surveillance on them.

During the searches, mobile phones and other electronic devices were seized from citizens. During searches and interrogations, FSB officers threatened citizens with long prison terms.

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