Kolyma 2.0. The Land of Trampled Freedom Once Again Becomes a Hotbed of Repression

In May 2018, the Magadan FSB opened a criminal case for their faith under Article 282.2(1) against 13 local residents. Among them are Sergey Agadzhanov, Lyubov Asatryan, Galina Dergacheva, Sergey Yerkin, Evgeny Zyablov, Inna Kardakova, Konstantin Petrov, Ivan Puida, Viktor Revyakin, Mikhail Solntsev, Oksana Solntseva, Irina Khvostova, Anastasia Chibisova.

"The case was opened against four people," says one of the accused, 34-year-old Konstantin Petrov. But now they have combined all this into one thing with 13 people.

Konstantin Petrov has been under investigation for two years. During this time, he managed to serve 2 months in a pre-trial detention center and 8 months under house arrest. It all started on May 30, 2018, when mass searches took place in the homes of peaceful believers in Magadan. He recalls: "I opened the door and quickly found myself on the floor. Immediately screams, noise. They ran in masks, with weapons, put me on the floor and sat on top. They put a bag over my head, threw it into a car and drove me to the FSB building."

According to Konstantin, the security forces tried to force him to cooperate with the investigation, threatening him with serious problems if he refused. "They exerted emotional pressure in order to force us to accept their point of view," says Konstantin Petrov.- We chose a measure of restraint in the form of detention."

As a result, Konstantin Petrov and three other believers ended up in the Magadan pre-trial detention center. Neither the investigation nor the court took into account Konstantin's state of health.

Valentina Shafurina, mother of Konstantin Petrov: "He has health problems, he does not digest gluten and lactose. At first, he was covered with a rash. Konstantin Petrov: "I need special food, and it is clear that there is no such food in the pre-trial detention center, my health was deteriorating."

The inhuman treatment to which Konstantin and other believers were subjected was the result of a criminal case initiated under the article "Organization of the activities of an extremist organization."

Konstantin Petrov: "The investigation is still ongoing, the investigator is collecting some information. According to him, the investigation will not end soon.

As in hundreds of other criminal cases against Jehovah's Witnesses throughout Russia, in the case of Konstantin Petrov there is no information about the victims and the damage caused.

Konstantin Petrov: "What did we do wrong? If we are believers and just call ourselves Jehovah's Witnesses, is that already a crime?"

Valentina Shafurina: "Will they really be imprisoned? I don't know. I can't believe that you can be imprisoned for this."

Konstantin signed a recognizance not to leave. And although he is free, criminal prosecution and imposed restrictions disrupt the life of the family and deprive him of the opportunity to support his elderly mother.

Valentina Shafurina: "I also called to myself, saying: "Maybe you will come to me?" They saved up for tickets to meet us. We haven't met, and I don't know when we'll meet now."

The memorial to the victims of political repression was created as a monument to the past. But for many believers, the "Mask of Sorrow" is becoming an increasingly clear reflection of the present.