Valeriy Klokov and his wife, Nataliya, on the day of the verdict, February 2025

Valeriy Klokov and his wife, Nataliya, on the day of the verdict, February 2025

Valeriy Klokov and his wife, Nataliya, on the day of the verdict, February 2025

Unjust Verdicts

Court Ruled in the Case of Valeriy Klokov, Jehovah's Witness from Altai Territory: Three Years in Prison

Altai Territory

On February 7, 2025, the judge of the Industrial District Court of Barnaul, Dmitriy Malikov, sentenced Valeriy Klokov to three years in prison. The court considered the words about the need to live according to God's commandments as "propaganda of exclusivity and superiority . . . Jehovah's Witnesses."

Klokov faced criminal prosecution in July 2023. Then the Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Altai Territory opened a criminal case against him. The believer's home was searched, he himself was sent to a temporary detention facility for two days, and then under house arrest for a year. At that time, investigator Yevgeniy Kozuchenko charged Klokov with organizing the activities of an extremist organization (part 1 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). The case went to court in July 2024, at the same time the measure of restraint for the man was changed to a ban on certain actions.

The believer does not agree with the verdict. "It pains me to hear that actions dictated solely by love for God and neighbors are being interpreted as a threat to society," he said in court. "The accusations against me seem to me not only unfair, but they also actually cast a shadow on who I am as a person."

According to Valeriy, in adolescence, it was his faith in God that helped him not to step on a dangerous path when he lost his parents. At that time, he had to take care of his sick grandmother and a large household, while he graduated from general education and music schools with honors. Valeriy's grandmother is still in his care.

Due to criminal prosecution, Valeriy Klokov lost his job and lost the opportunity to provide for his family, and house arrest had a detrimental effect on his health. But he tries not to lose heart and find the positive in his circumstances.

In the Altai Territory, nine people have already been prosecuted, two of them are in a penal colony.

The Case of Klokov in Barnaul

Case History
In the summer of 2023, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against Valeriy Klokov and Vitaliy Manuylov in Barnaul. A search was conducted in Klokov’s house. After interrogation and two days in the temporary detention center, Klokov was placed under house arrest. The men were accused of participating in the activities of an extremist organization. In April 2024, the charge against Klokov was reclassified to organizing the activities of an extremist organization. After 2 months, the criminal case against Manuylov was separated into a separate proceeding. In early July 2024, Klokov’s case went to court. The case file contains the testimony of a secret witness who attended religious services. The man was sentenced to three years in prison in February 2025.
Timeline

Persons in case

Klokov
Valeriy

Criminal case

Region:
Altai Territory
Locality:
Barnaul
Suspected of:
"carried out actions to support the existence of the local religious organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses Barnaul, including by holding conversations in order to promote the activity of this organization and participating in events held by representatives of the organization"
Court case number:
12302010022000019
Initiated:
July 10, 2023
Current case stage:
verdict did not take effect
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Altai Territory
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-29/2025 (1-579/2024)
Court of First Instance:
Industrialniy District Court of the City of Barnaul of the Altai Territory
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Dmitriy Malikov
Case History
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