Photo: Central District Court of Sochi. October 2019

Photo: Central District Court of Sochi. October 2019

Photo: Central District Court of Sochi. October 2019

Criminal Investigation and Trial

Two Sochi residents have been sent to jail for their faith until at least November 24, 2019

Krasnodar Territory

On October 11, 2019, the Central District Court of Sochi sent to the pre-trial detention center Nikolay Kuzichkin and Vyacheslav Popov, who had been detained the day before during a mass raid on believers. Nikolay Kuzichkin, 68, is the oldest of 40 Jehovah's Witnesses currently held in prison for their faith.

The decision to send his fellow countrymen to prison for their faith was made by 35-year-old judge Nikolai Shevelev, a native of the village of Krasnaya Polyana (Sochi). Dozens of their friends came to the court to support the believers.

Case of Kuzichkin and Popov in Sochi

Case History
In October 2019, special services conducted 36 raids in the Krasnodar Territory, during which Nikolay Kuzichkin and Vyacheslav Popov were detained. Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Krasnodar Territory accuses believers of convening and conducting worship services. Judge Nikolay Shevelev decided to detain both men for their convictions. Despite the rapidly deteriorating health, elderly Nikolay Kuzichkin was left in a pre-trial detention center, which was a serious threat to his life for six months. Vyacheslav’s large family was also going through difficult times when the head of the family was in custody and could not take care of his relatives. Judge of the Khostinsky District Court of Sochi, Yuriy Pilipenko, found the believers guilty of organizing the activities of an extremist organization and sentenced Nikolay to imprisonment for 1 year and 1 month, and Vyacheslav — 1 year and 10 months. Since the believers had already served these terms in a pre-trial detention center, they were released on December 18 and 29, 2020, respectively.
Timeline

Persons in case

Kuzichkin
Nikolay
Popov
Vyacheslav

Criminal case

Region:
Krasnodar Territory
Locality:
Sochi
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, "took actions of an organizational nature ... expressed in the convocation, opening and closing of meetings, the organization of religious speeches and worship at these meetings, the coordination of the course of meetings, the proposal of topics for discussion, the implementation of... preaching activity" (from the decision to initiate a criminal case)
Court case number:
11902030014000040
Initiated:
September 24, 2019
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Krasnodar Territory
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-292/2020
Court:
Khostinskiy District Court of Sochi
Case History
Back to top