Photo source: blinow61 / depositphotos.com

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

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

Perm Territory

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.

Case of Turik and Others in Perm

Case History
In September 2018, searches were carried out in the homes of believers in Perm and surrounding cities. After three days in the temporary detention facility, Igor Turik and Viktor Kuchkov were placed under house arrest. Shortly before that, the FSB opened a criminal case against them and Boris Burylov. As it turned out, the special services tapped their phones and conducted covert surveillance. Later, 2 more defendants appeared in the case - Alexander Inozemtsev and Yuri Vaag. Turik and Kuchkov spent more than three months under house arrest. In December 2020, the case was submitted to the Industrial District Court of Perm for consideration by Judge Viktor Podyniglazov. In April 2021, the prosecutor requested 9 years in prison for Turik, 7 years in prison for Burylov and Kuchkov, and 4 years in prison for Vaag and Inozemtsev. In May 2021, the court sentenced the believers to suspended sentences ranging from 2.5 to 7 years. In August 2021, the appeal upheld the verdict, and 9 months later, the cassation approved this decision.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Perm Territory
Locality:
Perm
Suspected of:
according to the investigation, together with others he conducted religious services, which is interpreted as “organising 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:
11807570001000085
Initiated:
September 7, 2018
Current case stage:
The verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the Directorate of the FSB of Russia for the Perm Territory
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2), 282.2 (1), 282.3 (1)
Court case number:
1-26/2021 (1-651/2020)
Court:
Индустриальный районный суд г. Перми
Judge:
Виктор Подыниглазов
Case History