Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

In Udmurtia, security forces invaded the homes and workplaces of believers. There are detainees

Udmurtia

Text updated on January 26, 2021.

On January 21, 2021, law enforcement officers conducted searches in seven homes and workplaces of Votkinsk-based Jehovah's Witnesses. Mikhail Potapov, 42, was taken to Izhevsk detention center #1 and Sergey Gobozev, 63, due to poor health, was placed under house arrest and banned from using a telephone and the Internet.

Criminal cases were initiated against the believers based on Part 1, Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code (organization of extremist activity). During the searches, electronic devices, postcards, photo albums, and Bibles were seized from the believers. Eyewitnesses reported that law enforcement officers planted publications that are included in the Federal List of Extremist Materials.

Case of Gobozev and Potapov in Votkinsk

Case History
Pensioner and labor veteran Sergey Gobozev, as well as repair technician Mikhail Potapov from Votkinsk were detained in January 2021. The Investigative Committee accused them of organizing the activities of an extremist organization only because the men gathered with friends to discuss the Bible. As a result, Potapov spent 4 months in a pre-trial detention center, and Gobozev was under house arrest. Both were then banned from certain activities. In September 2021, the case went to court. During the hearings, it became known about pressure on prosecution witnesses and falsification of their testimony. In March 2024, the prosecutor requested 6.5 years in prison for the believers, but the court imposed fines on both: 450 thousand rubles for Gobozev and 400 thousand for Potapov.
Timeline

Persons in case

Gobozev
Sergey
Potapov
Mikhail

Criminal case

Region:
Udmurtia
Locality:
Votkinsk
Suspected of:
"in the course of illegal religious meetings organized and directed by Gobozev and Potapov, articles from the book 'Holy Scripture - New World Translation' were studied" (from the decision to prosecute as an accused)
Court case number:
12102940001000201
Initiated:
January 20, 2021
Current case stage:
Appeal
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Udmurt Republic
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-9/2023 (1-25/2022; 1-542/2021)
Court:
Воткинский районный суд Удмуртской Республики
Judge:
Тамара Макарова
Case History