Photos: Vladimir Myakushin, Ilham Karimov, Aidar Yulmetyev and Konstantin Matrashov

Criminal trial

Four believers from Tatarstan spent six months in a pre-trial detention center - and now the court has returned their case to the prosecutor because of falsifications!

Tatarstan

On November 27, 2019, the Naberezhnye Chelny City Court refused to consider the case against Ilham Karimov, Konstantin Matrashov, Vladimir Myakushin and Aydar Yulmetyev. The court pointed to a significant violation of the law committed at the pre-trial stage and returned the case to the prosecutor of the Republic of Tatarstan.

The court drew attention to the fact that the investigators handed the defendants one text of the charge, and presented another to the court with a significantly expanded charge. In addition, the investigation, followed by the prosecutor's office, qualified the actions of believers under parts 1 and 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation completely arbitrarily, clearly not understanding what, in fact, their "crime" was.

Despite the court's bold decision to return the case, the believers remain under recognizance not to leave. The case against them has not been closed.

Update. On February 14, the Supreme Court of Tatarstan considered the appeal against the return of the criminal case to the prosecutor and upheld the decision of the lower court.

A dark period in the history of religious freedom in Tatarstan began on May 27, 2018. Law enforcement officers raided 10 apartments of local residents who were suspected of practicing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. Searches and interrogations in the homes of peaceful believers began on Sunday evening and continued until late at night. Law enforcement officers introduced themselves as employees of the Investigative Committee and the FSB. All electronic devices, mobile phones, and passports were confiscated from the believers, including four men, 10 women (including the elderly) and a child.

Ilham Karimov, 37, Vladimir Myakushin, 30, Konstantin Matrashov, 29, and Aidar Yulmetyev, 24, were arrested and sent to a pre-trial detention center for six months. After that, each of them spent another 2 months under house arrest.

Russian law enforcement officers mistakenly mistake the joint religion of citizens for participation in an extremist organization. This criminal prosecution is a direct consequence of the decision of the Supreme Court of Russia, which on April 20, 2017, liquidated and recognized as "extremist" 396 registered religious organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses throughout the country.

Case of Karimov and Others in Naberezhnyye Chelny

Case History
In May 2018, in Naberezhnye Chelny, security forces invaded 10 apartments of local residents with searches. Ilham Karimov, Vladimir Myakushin, Konstantin Matrashov and Aidar Yulmetyev were detained and sent to a pre-trial detention center for six months, after which they spent 2 to 3 months under house arrest. The reason for the criminal prosecution is faith in Jehovah God and communication with fellow believers. In November 2019, the Naberezhnye Chelny City Court returned the case to the prosecutor for revision due to falsifications on the part of the investigation. The case was not closed, the believers remained under recognizance not to leave. In December 2021, Judge Rustam Khakimov found the men guilty and sentenced them to suspended sentences: Myakushin to 3 years and 1 month, Yulmetyev to 2 years and 9 months, and Matrashov and Karimov to 2.5 years. All were also assigned a probationary period of 2 years. The Court of Appeal upheld this judgment of first instance on September 2, 2022.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Tatarstan
Locality:
Naberezhnye Chelny
Suspected of:
according to the investigation he participated in religious services, which is interpreted as organising, participating in and recruiting others into the activity of an “extremist organisation” (with reference to the decision of the Russian Supreme Court on the liquidation of all 396 registered organisations of Jehovah’s Witnesses)
Court case number:
11802920009000256
Initiated:
May 25, 2018
Current case stage:
The verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee for the Republic of Tatarstan
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1), 282.3 (1)
Court case number:
1-184/2021 (1-1963/2020)
Court:
Набережночелнинский городской суд Республики Татарстан
Judge:
Рустам Хакимов
Case History