Photo: Alexander Pryanikov, Venera Dulova, Daria Dulova

Criminal trial

In Karpinsk, Prosecution Asks 2 and 3 Years of Suspended Sentence for 3 Citizens, Including One Hearing Impaired

Sverdlovsk Region

On January 20, 2020, in Karpinsk (Sverdlovsk region), the hearing of arguments began in the case of Alexander Pryanikov, Venera Dulova and her 19-year-old daughter Daria. At the hearing in the Karpinsky City Court, the prosecutor demanded a suspended sentence of 3 years for Alexander and Venera and 2 years for Daria.

Also, the prosecution asks to appoint 3 years of probation for Alexander and Venus and 2 years of probation for Daria.

The catchy case against Alexander Pryanikov and Venera Dulova was initiated in the summer of 2018. Later, Daria was included in it. All this time, the investigation tried to collect evidence of the guilt of peaceful believers under the grave article of the Criminal Code - 282.2 (2) (participation in extremist activities), but found only the facts of reading the Bible with friends.

The sentencing is expected on January 27 at 9:30 a.m. The presiding judge is Gabbasova S.V.

Case of Prianikov and Others in Karpinsk

Case History
In June 2018, Venera Dulova and Aleksandr Pryanikov were detained for talking about the Bible. A criminal case was opened against them under an extremist article. A year later, Daria Dulova became the third defendant in the case. In January 2020, they were sentenced to suspended sentences ranging from 1 year to 2.5 years. An appeal in Yekaterinburg overturned the verdict and returned the case to the court of first instance. This time, the prosecutor requested a more severe punishment, but the court duplicated the first verdict. In March 2022, the appellate court again overturned the verdict, acquitting the believers. The cassation court did not change this decision. However, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation overturned it in March 2023 and returned the case to the appeal stage, which returned the case to the prosecutor’s office, after which the cassation sent it for a new appeal hearing. A fourth appellate decision upheld the convictions of Aleksandr and Venera. Daria is exempt from criminal liability, as the statute of limitations has expired. All three believers are defendants in another criminal case for their faith.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Sverdlovsk Region
Locality:
Karpinsk
Suspected of:
"Within the jurisdiction of the city of Karpinsk... together with a group of people, being fully aware that the religious organization Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia was declared extremist and its activities in the Russian Federation were prohibited, [he] participated in its activities by directly taking part in events, carrying out propaganda of its activities, familiarizing with religious literature."
Court case number:
11802650042000038
Initiated:
July 30, 2018
Current case stage:
The verdict entered into force
Investigating:
СО в г. Краснотурьинске СУ Следственного комитета РФ по Свердловской области
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-11/2021 (1-184/2020; 1-5/2020; 1-167/2019)
Court:
Карпинский городской суд Свердловской области
Case History