Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

In Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Jehovah's Witnesses Were Searched. Criminal Case Initiated

Kamchatka Territory

On the morning of October 17, 2022, searches were carried out in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at four addresses of Jehovah's Witnesses and their relatives. A criminal case has been opened under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

The criminal case was opened by the investigator for especially important cases D. M. Petukhov on September 25, 2022. At one of the families, the security forces searched not only the apartment, but also the car. They seized electronic devices, storage media, money and personal records. Law enforcement officers took another believer straight from work and took him to the Investigative Committee for interrogation. After searches and interrogations, the believers were released on a pledge to appear.

Now, in the Kamchatka Territory, 8 believers have already faced criminal prosecution for their faith. Three of them were acquitted, two received a fine, and one received a suspended sentence. Soon, the verdict will be announced to the Semyonov spouses from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

The Case of the Chechulins in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy

Case History
Sergey Chechulin and his wife Yelena became defendants in yet another criminal case against Jehovah’s Witnesses in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy. In September 2022, the Investigative Committee initiated a case against them on suspicion of organizing the activity of an extremist organization. A month later, their home was searched, and the couple was placed under a recognizance agreement. In November 2023, the case went to court, where the charge was reclassified as participating in the activity of an extremist organization. The prosecutor requested 6 years in a penal colony for the Chechulins. In April 2024, the couple was given a 2-year suspended sentence. The court of appeal upheld this decision, yet in October of the same year, court of cassation sent the case for retrial.
Timeline

Persons in case

Chechulin
Sergey
Chechulina
Yelena

Criminal case

Region:
Kamchatka Territory
Locality:
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Suspected of:
in "convening meetings, organizing religious talks and meetings for worship, in accordance with the ideology of the religious association of Jehovah's Witnesses at these meetings ... Conducted routine training with other persons on the teachings of the religious association "Jehovah's Witnesses"" (from the decision to initiate a criminal case)
Court case number:
12202300011000019
Initiated:
September 25, 2022
Current case stage:
trial in court of first instance
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Kamchatka Territory
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-70/2024 (1-997/2023)
Court of First Instance:
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy City Court
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Ivan Pantyashin
Case History
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