Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

One of Jehovah's Witnesses from Izhevsk Placed in Pretrial Detention Center After Searches

Udmurtia

In the early morning of June 4, 2024, security forces invaded the homes of at least three families of Jehovah's Witnesses in Izhevsk. One man was sent to pretrial detention, two were banned from certain actions.

A criminal case against the believers – the fourth in the region – was initiated by the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Udmurt Republic a day earlier. The case proceedings are being conducted by investigator Artur Selin.

The search at the home of Aleksandr Stefanidin, 32, and his wife began at about 7 a.m. and lasted 2 hours. Electronic devices and flash drives were seized from the family. After that, Aleksandr was taken for interrogation. On June 5, the judge of the Industrialniy District Court of Izhevsk, Aleksandr Shishkin, sent Stefanidin to the detention center.

Another of those against whom the case was initiated, is pensioner Indus Talipov, 73.

Case of Talipov and Others in Izhevsk

Case History
In June 2024, an investigator of the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against three of Jehovah’s Witnesses from Izhevsk, including 73-year-old pensioner Indus Talipov. A day later, searches were conducted in the apartments of the believers. After interrogation, they were charged with organizing extremist activities. The investigation considered it a crime to hold peaceful worship services and read the Holy Scriptures via the Internet. The court sent Aleksandr Stefanidin to a pre-trial detention center, and banned Valeriy Knyazev and Indus Talipov from certain actions.
Timeline

Persons in case

Knyazev
Valeriy
Stefanidin
Aleksandr
Talipov
Indus

Criminal case

Region:
Udmurtia
Locality:
Izhevsk
Court case number:
12402940001002801
Initiated:
June 3, 2024
Current case stage:
preliminary investigation
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Case History