Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

One of Jehovah's Witnesses Was Detained in Moscow and Taken to Saratov. Three Days Later, He Was Placed Under House Arrest

Moscow,   Saratov Region

On April 21, 2024, Moscow security forces detained one of Jehovah's Witnesses, Sergey Bagiyan, 50. He was informed that he was a suspect in a criminal case for extremism.

According to Bagiyan's relatives, law enforcement officers with machine guns came to Sergey's home in the afternoon. They behaved politely, nevertheless they handcuffed the believer and took him to the police station. Later, Sergey was transported to Saratov and placed in a temporary detention facility.

On April 24, the Volzhskiy District Court imposed house arrest for two months on him as a preventive measure.

The case of Bashabayev and Others in Saratov

Case History
In the fall of 2023, security forces conducted searches in the homes of believers. Electronic devices, personal records, as well as documents and all money were seized from them. Aleksey Vasiliyev, Aleksey Yefremov and members of their families were taken for interrogation to the Investigative Committee. Then the men were placed in a temporary detention facility, and later under house arrest. Three days later, Anton Bashabaev was detained at the Volgograd airport and taken to the Investigative Committee in Saratov. There he was interrogated and placed in a detention center, after which he was placed under house arrest. In April 2024, Sergey Bagiyan was detained in Moscow, placed in a detention center, after which he was transported to Saratov and placed under house arrest. In November 2024, Vasiliyev, Yefremov, and Bashabaev were placed under a ban on certain actions.
Timeline

Persons in case

Bagiyan
Sergey
Bashabaev
Anton
Vasiliyev
Aleksey
Yefremov
Aleksey

Criminal case

Region:
Saratov Region
Locality:
Saratov
Suspected of:
in "preaching and spreading the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses among the residents of the city of Saratov and the Saratov region," as well as in "participating in meetings held using the Zoom software" (from the decision to prosecute as defendants)
Court case number:
12302630021000098
Initiated:
October 31, 2023
Current case stage:
preliminary investigation
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Saratov Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Case History
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