Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

In Altai Territory, Two 69-Year-Old Jehovah's Witnesses Arrested. Investigation Charges Them With Extremism

Altai Territory

On June 10, 2026, Yekaterina Lastovskaya, judge of the Slavgorod City Court, placed pensioners Valeriy Firsov from Yarovoye and Viktor Kovalenko from Slavgorod under house arrest. Two days earlier, both men had been detained and, after interrogation, were placed in a temporary detention facility.

Both believers have been charged with organizing the activity of an extremist organization.

Less than a month ago, in this region, Sergey Barsukov and Alik Yeliseev were sent to prison for 6 years. In addition to them, 12 men are being prosecuted in the Altai Territory for their faith in Jehovah God: five are in a penal colony, three received suspended sentences, and two are performing compulsory labor. The oldest is 77 years old.

The Case of Firsov and Kovalenko in Slavgorod

Case History
In June 2026, in the cities of Yarovoye and Slavgorod, Altai Territory, Investigative Committee officers detained Valeriy Firsov, 69, and Viktor Kovalenko, 69, who profess the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses. They were interrogated as suspects in participating in extremist activity and sent to a temporary detention facility. The following day, they were charged with organizing the activity of an extremist organization. Several months earlier, searches were conducted at the homes of the believers. After their detention, Viktor and Valeriy were placed under house arrest.
Timeline

Persons in case

Firsov
Valeriy
Kovalenko
Viktor

Criminal case

Region:
Altai Territory
Locality:
Slavgorod
Court case number:
12502010019000052
Initiated:
August 18, 2025
Current case stage:
preliminary investigation
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Case History
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