Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

Jehovah's Witnesses Were Searched in Yaroslavl. A Criminal Case Has Been Initiated

Yaroslavl Region

On May 19, 2022, Anton Kokovin, a 31-year-old Jehovah's Witness, was detained on the main street of Yaroslavl. After the search and interrogation, the believer was given a written undertaking not to leave the place. On this day, operatives searched at least 3 dwellings.

In the apartment of his friends, where Anton Kokovin was staying, law enforcement officers conducted a search on the order of the senior detective of the FSB of Russia in the Yaroslavl region, Major M.A. Morenov. In the absence of the owners, the security forces confiscated system units, laptops and hard drives that did not belong to the believer.

The second search took place at Anton Kokovin's place of residence. All electronic devices were also confiscated from him. After that, the man was taken to the investigative department for the Yaroslavl region for interrogation. There, the investigator informed Kokovin that he was suspected of participating in the activities of an extremist organization (part 2 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), and a criminal case was initiated against him.

The security forces entered the house of another believer through the fence, as no one was at home. The information is being specified.

Update. It became known that on May 18, a believer from Yaroslavl, 50, received a summons for interrogation as a witness to the investigator of the Investigative Committee Aleksandr Grigoryev. Since the document did not indicate what case the call was connected with, the believer refused to come. A few days later, he was detained and placed in a pre-trial detention center.

In Yaroslavl, 4 more Jehovah's Witnesses, including a woman, are persecuted for their faith. Their case is at the stage of preliminary investigation.

The Case of Kokovin in Yaroslavl

Case History
In May 2022, law enforcement officers detained communications engineer Anton Kokovin on the central street of Yaroslavl. After a search at his place of residence and in the apartment where he was visiting, the believer was interrogated. He was placed under a recognizance agreement. A criminal case was initiated for participating in the activity of an extremist organization — this is how the investigator of the RF Investigative Committee regarded participating in peaceful meetings for worship via video link. It turns out, that from March 2019, hidden audio recordings of meetings for worship of Jehovah’s Witnesses were being made. In May 2023, the case went to court, and in September 2024, the believer was fined to 75,000 rubles.
Timeline

Persons in case

Kokovin
Anton

Criminal case

Region:
Yaroslavl Region
Locality:
Yaroslavl
Suspected of:
... being fully aware of the ban on the activity of the religious organization "Jehovah's Witnesses", participated in the meetings of the said banned organization via the Internet by means of video conferencing
Court case number:
12202780014000016
Initiated:
May 18, 2022
Current case stage:
verdict did not take effect
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Yaroslavl Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-6/2024 (1-257/2023)
Court of First Instance:
Derzhinskiy District Court of the City of Yaroslavl
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Marina Chipilenko
Case History

Glazov's case in Yaroslavl

Case History
In April 2021, searches were carried out in the homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Yaroslavl. Among those who were invaded by law enforcement officers was the family of Andrey Glazov. On the same day, he, along with other believers, was interrogated in the Investigative Committee. Thirteen months later, a criminal case was opened against Glazov. He was detained and placed in a pre-trial detention center, accused of participating in the activities of an extremist organization. Four months later, the court released him under a ban on certain actions. In June 2023, the case went to court, and a year later, Glazov was convicted and given a suspended sentence of 2.5 years.
Timeline

Persons in case

Glazov
Andrey

Criminal case

Region:
Yaroslavl Region
Locality:
Yaroslavl
Court case number:
12202780014000015
Initiated:
May 18, 2022
Current case stage:
verdict did not take effect
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Yaroslavl Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court of First Instance:
Ярославский районный суд Ярославской области
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Вера Конева
Case History