A New Search on Sakhalin. One of Jehovah's Witnesses Daler Tokhtayev Detained in Poronaysk

On April 3, 2024, in the city of Poronaysk, Sakhalin Region, a search was carried out at the home of Daler Tokhtayev, 33, and his wife. The believer was detained and taken to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. He is accused of extremism.

At about 8 a.m., law enforcement officers, including two FSB officers, arrived at the workplace of Daler Tokhtayev. From there, they took the believer to his home, where his wife was, and conducted a search there until 11:30 a.m. Electronic devices, personal notes and a Bible were seized from the couple. The search warrant was issued by the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk City Court on February 22, 2024.

A criminal case under Parts 1.1 and Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the RF Criminal Code was initiated against Tokhtayev on February 6, 2024. The investigation suspects him of "conducting conversations with RF citizens" on Bible topics, which is interpreted as a continuation of the activity of a banned religious organization and an attempt to involve others in it.

The search was conducted by the investigator of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee for the Sakhalin Region, Yuliya Che, who also took part in the investigation of the criminal case of another local believer, Roman Gumenyuk. Tokhtayev became the tenth Jehovah's Witness to be prosecuted for his faith on Sakhalin.