Mass Searches and Arrests for Faith in Kamchatka

On August 1, 2018, Mikhail Popov, a 56-year-old resident of Vilyuchinsk (Kamchatka Territory), was sent to a pre-trial detention center until September 24. His wife, Yelena, has been in a temporary detention facility since July 30, and the court extended her detention for another 72 hours. The spouses are suspected of professing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses.

On the morning of July 30, 2018, in the city of Vilyuchinsk (Kamchatka Territory), dozens of armed FSB officers in balaclavas conducted several searches in the homes and cars of local residents. According to preliminary data, the searches were carried out on the initiative and with the support of the FSB, but the case is being investigated by the investigator of the Investigative Committee for the Kamchatka Territory, Lieutenant Colonel of Justice Viktor Ushakevich. Representatives of the police also participated in operational activities, since one of the law enforcement officers presented a police major's certificate in the name of Sutyagin.

For some time, no one knew about the whereabouts of Mikhail and Elena Popov. Since they still have locked pets, their friends entered their house and found traces of a search. Later it was found out that the Popovs were in a temporary detention center. His appointed lawyer recommended that blankets and warm clothes be handed over to them, which was done.

Russian law enforcement officers mistakenly mistake the joint religion of citizens for participation in the activities of an extremist organization. The Human Rights Council under the President of Russia drew attention to this problem: "Accusations of citizens that they read the Bible together and pray to God are interpreted as "continuation of the activities of an extremist organization." The Council considers that such an interpretation is inconsistent with the legal position of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation ... This cannot but cause concern, since criminal prosecutions and arrests have become systemic."

Such persecution for faith, accompanied by rough searches and arrests of law-abiding citizens, occurs in 7 out of 9 regions of the Far Eastern Federal District.