Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

Searches Took Place in the Khabarovsk Territory. A Believer, 60, Was Detained and Placed in a Pre-Trial Detention Center

Khabarovsk Territory

On March 3, 2022, at least 2 families of Jehovah's Witnesses were searched in the Knyaz-Volkonsky rural settlement (Khabarovsk Territory). Valeriy Rabota was detained and on March 6, by a court decision, was sent to a pre-trial detention center for 2 months.

A search was conducted in the house of Valeriy, 60, and his wife Elvira, during which electronic devices, various translations of the Bible, personal notes, video cassettes, a camera and a video camera were seized.

After the search, the spouses were taken to the investigative department for the Industrial District of Khabarovsk for interrogation. Valeriy and Elvira took advantage of the right guaranteed by Article 51 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation not to testify against themselves. Then Valeriy Rabota was detained and sent to a temporary detention facility.

Earlier in the Khabarovsk Territory, criminal cases had already been opened against 23 Jehovah's Witnesses, one of whom, unfortunately, died in the hospital during the trial.

The Case of Valeriy Rabota in Knyaze-Volkonskoye

Case History
In March 2022, the Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case under an article for extremism against Valeriy Rabota from the village of Knyaze-Volkonskoye. His house was searched, after which he was taken for interrogation and placed in a temporary detention facility, 2 days later he ended up in a pretrial detention center for “unwillingness to cooperate” — to incriminate himself and fellow believers. In June 2022, despite the investigator’s demand to extend Valeriy’s detention, the judge eased the preventive measure, placing the believer under house arrest. He suffered a stroke soon after. In March 2023, the case went to court, and in November, the prosecutor requested that the believer be sent to a penal colony for 6 years. A month later, the judge recused herself and the case was sent for a new trial. In July 2024, Valeriy was given a 6-year suspended sentence. In September, the court of appeal reduced the sentence to 5 years.
Timeline

Persons in case

Rabota
Valeriy

Criminal case

Region:
Khabarovsk Territory
Locality:
Knyaz-Volkonskoye
Court case number:
12202080023000009
Initiated:
March 1, 2022
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Komsomolsk-on-Amur Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Khabarovsk Territory
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1.1), 282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-10/2024 (1-223/2023)
Court of First Instance:
Khabarovsk District Court of the Khabarovsk Territory
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Mariya Luzhbina
Case History