Murmansk. Photo source: Dodonov, CC BY-SA 3.0

Murmansk. Photo source: Dodonov, CC BY-SA 3.0

Murmansk. Photo source: Dodonov, CC BY-SA 3.0

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

In Murmansk, four men in civilian clothes detained a local resident, Vitaliy Omelchenko, on suspicion of believing in Jehovah

Murmansk Region

On January 20, 2020, Vitaliy Omelchenko was detained in Murmansk. Leaving the entrance with his wife at about 6 p.m., he saw four men in civilian clothes who invited him to proceed to the police station. Vitaly's wife returned home alone.

This is not the first time that Murmansk law enforcement officers have harassed civilians because of their religious beliefs. The case of Roman Markin and Viktor Trofimov has been going on since the spring of 2018.

Case of Omelchenko in Murmansk

Case History
At the end of December 2019, law enforcement officers in Murmansk raided the homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case against Vitaliy Omelchenko for organizing the activities of an extremist organization merely because he said prayers and conducted worship services. A month later, the security forces detained the believer near his house and sent him to a temporary detention center; two days later the court released him but imposed a ban on certain actions. In early 2021, the case went to court. The prosecution appointed as experts Tarasov, Kotelnikov and Kryukova, who are known for their prejudiced attitude towards Jehovah’s Witnesses. In September 2022, the prosecutor requested six years in a general regime penal colony for the believer, but the court sentenced him to a fine of 580,000 rubles. The appellate court upheld that verdict.
Timeline

Persons in case

Omelchenko
Vitaliy

Criminal case

Region:
Murmansk Region
Locality:
Murmansk
Suspected of:
"organized in residential premises, as well as in other places, the activities of a local religious organization by holding meetings ... personal ascension of sermons... involvement of new persons, as well as other actions of an organizational nature"
Court case number:
11902470002000277
Initiated:
December 23, 2019
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Murmansk Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-11/2022 (1-83/2021)
Court:
Oktyabrskiy District Court of the City of Murmansk
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Roman Girich
Case History
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