Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

Searches of Jehovah's Witnesses Were Again Held in Sochi. 25-Year-Old Believer Is Detained

Krasnodar Territory

In the early morning of August 18, searches were carried out in Sochi at three addresses at least as part of a criminal case against 25-year-old Danil Suvorov. The believer was detained and placed in a temporary detention facility. The next day, the court ruled to send him to a pre-trial detention center.

At 6:30 in the morning, law enforcement officers invaded Danil Suvorov. Electronic equipment was confiscated from the believer. At the same time, the security forces were looking for Danil at the house of other believers living in the village of Vesyoloye, Adler District, Sochi. There the search was carried out under the direction of the senior investigator of the RF IC for the Krasnodar Territory R. A. Shevriyev. Law enforcers were looking for religious literature. They confiscated electronic equipment, personal notes, postcards and a book about Jehovah's Witnesses, religious scholar Sergey Ivanenko. After the searches, the detainees were taken for interrogation to the Investigative Committee. Everyone except Danil was later released.

Another search took place at the elderly woman's house. Law enforcement officers mistakenly believed that the woman was the mother of Danil Suvorov. Her son, Danil’s fellow believer, was summoned for interrogation.

Danil Suvorov is accused of committing a crime under Part 1.1 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. According to the investigation, Suvorov, “using his authority as a spiritual leader ... of Jehovah's Witnesses, took active steps aimed at persuading, recruiting and otherwise involving ... [a local resident] in the activities of a banned extremist ... [organization] on the territory Sochi ". This is how law enforcement officers qualified ordinary peaceful talk about the Bible. The criminal case is being investigated by the senior investigator of the Investigation Department of the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Krasnodar Territory A. G. Andrianov.

This is the third criminal case for faith in Sochi and the 12th in the Krasnodar Territory. Six Jehovah's Witnesses from the region have already been convicted and sentenced to between 13 months and 7.5 years in prison.

The Case of Danil Suvorov in Sochi

Case History
In August 2021, a wave of searches took place in Sochi as part of the criminal case against Danil Suvorov. He was detained and put in a detention center. The believer was accused of involving a local resident (as it turned out later, an undercover informant) in the activity of an extremist organization. Six months later, the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee for the Krasnodar Territory initiated a criminal case against Danil and his older brother Denis. They were charged under two articles: participating in the activity of an extremist organization and involving others in it. In April 2022, Danil was indicted, and in May, the case went to court. In June 2023, the prosecutor requested 8 years in a penal colony for Danil. The court sentenced the believer to 6 years imprisonment. In May 2024, the court of appeal upheld this decision.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Krasnodar Territory
Locality:
Sochi
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, "using his authority as a spiritual leader of a follower of the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses in the territory of Sochi, Krasnodar Territory, he took active steps aimed at persuading, recruiting and otherwise involving ... in the activities of a banned extremist organization"
Court case number:
12202030015000020
Initiated:
February 8, 2022
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigation Department for the Central District of Sochi of the Investigative Department of the Russian Federation for the Krasnodar Territory
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1.1), 282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-30/2023 (1-448/2022)
Court of First Instance:
Екатерина Остапенко
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Центральный районный суд г. Сочи
Case History