Case of Petrenko in Berezniki

Case History

In September 2018, as part of the criminal case of Igor Turik, a search was conducted in the apartment and car of engineer Valery Petrenko. Less than two weeks later, a criminal case was opened against him. The investigation considered his participation in a worship service, at which he discussed the topic “What is God’s Kingdom,” to be extremism. During one of the interrogations, the believer learned that he was under covert audio and video surveillance.

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    September 14, 2018

    The court orders a search in the apartment and car of Valery Petrenko, who lives in the city of Berezniki.

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    September 17, 2018

    As part of the criminal case against Igor Turik, officers of the FSB Directorate for the Perm Territory A. Abramov, V. V. Naumov and V. S. Skosyrev search the apartment and car of Valery Petrenko. The witnesses are 2 employees of the rapid response team - Maxim Spirin and Sergey Borodulya.

    Religious literature, several copies of the Bible, bank cards, electronic devices, CDs, a media player, storage media, a system unit, and personal records are seized from the believer.

    Petrenko is being interrogated at the FSB office in Berezniki by the same officers who conducted the search. They ask Petrenko questions about why and when he became one of Jehovah's Witnesses, whether he knows Igor Turik, where the meetings of believers were held, and who is their leader.

    The investigation blames Valery Petrenko for conducting divine services and the rite of baptism.

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    September 26, 2018

    Senior investigator of the FSB Directorate for the Perm Territory, Major of Justice S. A. Vodianenko initiates a criminal case for faith under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation against Valery Petrenko. The reason for the initiation is the report of Abramov's employee on the detection of signs of a crime in the actions of the believer.

    According to the investigation, he "deliberately took an active part in the meeting of the religious association of Jehovah's Witnesses ... which was expressed in the coverage and discussion of issues on topics recommended by higher organizations in the structure of the world organization of Jehovah's Witnesses, discussed with those present the topic: "What is the kingdom of God?"

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    November 26, 2018

    The term of the preliminary investigation in the criminal case against Valeriy Petrenko is extended.

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    September 16, 2019

    Six witnesses in the case, including Valery's wife, Galina Petrenko, are being questioned. They are asked questions about the defendants in the Turik case.

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    September 20, 2019

    Investigator A. S. Redozubov summons Petrenko for interrogation as a suspect. During interrogation, he learns that he was under covert audio and video surveillance.