Photo: Invasion of believers in Polyarny (2018)
Photo: Invasion of believers in Polyarny (2018)
On July 30, 2018, 44-year-old Dmitry Barmakin, who came from Crimea to Primorsky Krai to take care of the sick mother of his wife Elena, who lives in Nakhodka (Primorsky Territory), was sent to the pre-trial detention center for 2 months. Dmitry is suspected of practicing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses.
The case against Dmitry Barmakin was initiated on July 27, 2018. It is being investigated by investigator G.Y. Tarasenko from the Investigative Committee of Russia in the Pervorechensky district of Vladivostok.
On July 28, 2018, at approximately 7 a.m., a group of armed masked men broke into the home of a 90-year-old woman who was visiting the Barmakins. The spouses were detained and taken to Vladivostok. Yelena was released, threatening that she "will be next" and "will go under arrest after her husband." Dmitriy was charged under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organization of an extremist organization).
On July 30, 2018, Olga Barabash, judge of the Pervorechensky District Court of Vladivostok, sent Dmitry Barmakin to jail until September 27, 2018.
In total, at least three criminal cases have been initiated in the Primorye Territory against citizens who are suspected of practicing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. The case of Valentin Osadchuk is being investigated by the Investigative Department of the FSB of Russia in Vladivostok. Another case, during which a military operation was carried out in the village of Razdolnoye (Primorsky Territory), is being investigated by the Investigative Department for the Nadezhdinsky District of the Investigative Committee of Russia.
Law enforcement agencies across the country mistakenly interpret peaceful meetings of believers as "extremist activity." Dozens of human rights defenders, as well as the Human Rights Council under the President of the Russian Federation , expressed concern about the growing religious repression.
