Photo source: josefkubes / stock.adobe.com

Photo source: josefkubes / stock.adobe.com

Photo source: josefkubes / stock.adobe.com

Criminal Investigation and Trial

In Lipetsk, believers Artur Netreba, Viktor Bachurin and Aleksandr Kostrov were sent to a pre-trial detention center. The FSB insisted on their arrest

Lipetsk Region

The court made the decision on December 4, 2019, without notifying any of the relatives. It was found out that the men are still in a temporary detention center, and in mid-December they should be transferred to pre-trial detention center No. 1 of the Federal Penitentiary Service in the Lipetsk region. The case is being conducted by Y. V. Yakushev, an investigator of the FSB of Russia in the Lipetsk region.

The Lipetsk region has become the 49th region of Russia where believers are persecuted. On December 2, 2019, at least 7 searches were carried out in the regional center. Having burst into one of the dwellings, the FSB officers knocked down the owner of the apartment, while she received a head injury, and an ambulance had to be called. The men present in the apartment were handcuffed and forced to lie on the floor.

By midnight, believers from different places were taken for a 5-hour interrogation to the FSB department. 41-year-old Artur Netreba, 57-year-old Viktor Bachurin and 58-year-old Alexander Kostrov were arrested.

Case of Netreba and Others in Lipetsk

Case History
In December 2019, three peaceful residents from Lipetsk - Artur Netreba, Alexandr Kostrov and Viktor Bachurin - ended up behind bars, where they spent almost a year. The FSB investigator considered conducting “religious meetings”, resolving “issues of a religious nature” and “pastoral service” “a grave crime against the constitutional order.” The believers were accused of participating in the activity of an extremist organization. In December 2020, the case went to court. The prosecutor requested 4 years in a penal colony and 8 months restriction of freedom for the believers. In November 2021, the court found them guilty and imposed a fine of 500 thousand rubles on all three, which was reduced to 300 thousand rubles, since the defendants spent almost a year in pre-trial detention. The court of appeal, and later the court of cassation, upheld this verdict.
Timeline

Persons in case

Bachurin
Viktor
Kostrov
Aleksandr
Netreba
Artur

Criminal case

Region:
Lipetsk Region
Locality:
Lipetsk
Court case number:
11907420001000023
Initiated:
December 2, 2019
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the FSB Directorate for the Lipetsk Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-83/2021 (1-501/2020)
Court:
Sovetskiy District Court of the City of Lipetsk
Judge:
Aleksandr Ustnikov
Case History
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