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Illustrative photo

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Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

New Prisoners of Conscience in the Vladimir Region of Russia: Two More Jehovah's Witnesses Sent to Detention Centers

Vladimir Region

On July 8, 2021, new criminal cases were filed against Jehovah's Witnesses living in the Vladimir region. Aleksey Kupriyanov, 48, from Kovrov, and Roman Adestov, 45, from the village of Ivanovo were interrogated and detained. The next day, the Oktyabrskiy district court of Vladimir put them in custody.

In the early morning of 8 July, law enforcement officers came with searches simultaneously to Kupriyanov and Adestov. Aleksey and Raman were taken for interrogation to the head criminal investigator D.A. Tyumenev. Then the search continued in the presence of the wives of the believers. Law enforcement officers seized electronic devices. A few days before the searches, the Kupriyanovs and Adestovs noticed interruptions in the work of the home Internet and TV receivers.

The search in Kovrov was led by Captain Velichko, a senior FSB operative, and in the village of Ivanovo by junior FSB operative Polyakov.

On June 28, 2021, investigator Tyumenev opened a criminal case under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation against Kupriyanov. According to the investigation, the believer "took part in religious meetings ... actively participated in the collection of information on the amount of work done... on the implementation of... the religious teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses ... to the civilian masses." This is how the investigation interprets peaceful discussions of the Bible among friends. Despite the fact that Aleksey has elderly parents who are dependent on him, the court ruled to detain the believer until August 26, 2021.

About five months ago, a criminal case was opened in Kovrov against 66-year-old Boris Simonenko, who is still in jail for his faith in Jehovah God.

The Case of Adestov in Kovrov

Case History
In June 2021, a criminal case was initiated against Roman Adestov. The following month, security forces raided 7 homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses in and around Kovrov. One of them was Roman Adestov. He was interrogated at the the FSB branch of the city of Vladimir, arrested and sent to a detention center. The investigation saw extremism in the fact that Roman “took part in religious meetings… spoke at them.” After 4.5 months, the believer was placed under house arrest, and after another 7 months - a ban on certain actions was imposed against him. In September 2022, the criminal case went to court. In June 2023, the court sentenced Roman Adestov to 1 year in a penal colony and 11 months of restricted freedom. After the verdict, the believer was not taken into custody, since he had already served the appointed term of imprisonment, being under pre-trial detention and house arrest.
Timeline

Persons in case

Adestov
Roman

Criminal case

Region:
Vladimir Region
Locality:
Carpets
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, "he took part in religious meetings of members of the LRO SI in the city of Kovrov, spoke at them", "collected information on the volume of work done ... work on the introduction of the ideology of the religious teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses in the civil masses"
Court case number:
12107170001000018
Initiated:
June 28, 2021
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Branch of the Federal Security Service of Russia in the Vladimir Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-22/2023 (1-426/2022)
Court of First Instance:
Ковровский городской суд
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Василий Сафронов
Case History

Case of Kupriyanov in Kovrov

Case History
Searches in the house of accountant Aleksey Kupriyanov took place twice - in February and July 2021. The Investigative Committee for the Vladimir Region initiated a criminal case against a believer for “participation in religious meetings.” The entire accusation is based on one quote from the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, spoken by Kupriyanov at a meeting. After Aleksey’s arrest, the health condition of his mother worsened, she is a group II disabled person. The believer, while he was behind the bars, couldn’t care for her anymore. He spent about four and a half months in pre-trial detention. There Aleksey faced inhumane treatment, and his health suffered seriously. In November 2021, Kupriyanov was transferred to house arrest. After another seven months, the court softened his preventive measure to the prohibition of certain actions. In September 2022, the case went to trial. In September 2023, the court found him guilty and sentenced him to prison, but the time was counted as time served during the investigation.
Timeline

Persons in case

Kupriyanov
Aleksey

Criminal case

Region:
Vladimir Region
Locality:
Carpets
Suspected of:
"took part in religious meetings of the participants of the LRO SI in the city of Kovrov, spoke at them", "collected information on the volume of work done ... work on the introduction of the ideology of the religious teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses"
Court case number:
12107170001000017
Initiated:
June 28, 2021
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Branch of the Federal Security Service of Russia in the Vladimir Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-21/2023 (1-425/2022)
Court of First Instance:
Ковровский городской суд Владимирской области
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Вячеслав Кузнецов
Case History
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