The case of Tsarev and Smirnov in Nizhny Novgorod

Case History

In July 2019, Nizhny Novgorod security forces broke into 35 houses of peaceful believers with searches, several criminal cases were initiated, in particular against pensioner Galina Abrosimova, web designer Eduard Smirnov and cook Denis Tsarev. Oleg Makerov, senior investigator of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for the Nizhny Novgorod region, accused them of organizing extremist activities. Tsarev spent 2 days in the temporary detention facility. The case of Tsarev and Smirnov was separated into separate proceedings from the case of Abrosimova.
Timeline

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    June 4, 2019

    Lieutenant Colonel of Justice Oleg Makerov, senior investigator for particularly important cases of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Nizhny Novgorod Region, initiates criminal case No. 11901220089000239 for faith against unidentified persons, "in whose act signs of a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation are seen." According to the investigation, they "held meetings, collected donations for the needs of a religious organization, and improved their missionary skills."

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    July 17, 2019

    In Nizhny Novgorod and the region, searches are being carried out in the homes of believers, equipment is being seized. Peaceful believers Denis Tsarev (born in 1983), Eduard Smirnov (born in 1988) and Galina Abrosimova (born in 1966) become defendants in criminal case No. 11901220089000239.

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    November 18, 2021

    It becomes known that the case of Tsarev and Smirnov was separated into separate proceedings from the case of Abrosimova. It is assigned a 42101220089000296 number.