Photo: Vadim Kutsenko with his wife

Crimes Against Believers

In Chita, Vadim Kutsenko Reports That During Interrogation He Was Beaten Using Electric Shock to His Stomach and Leg

Trans-Baikal Territory

On February 10, 2020, during searches in Transbaikalia, law enforcement officers handcuffed 31-year-old Vadim Kutsenko behind his back, closed his eyes and subjected him to beatings, strangulation and electric shocks to the lower leg and abdomen in an official car, demanding a confession.

Vadim Kutsenko was detained late at night with his wife's parents. During the torture, he refused to admit guilt or give false testimony against fellow believers. The official car stopped in the forest behind the SibVO stadium in Chita. Vadim Kutsenko was stripped of his hat and forced to get out of the car, threatening to stage an escape attempt. They also put him facing the car and beat him on the legs. After that, he was taken to the investigator, where he immediately declared the torture inflicted on him.

The believer is still in custody. Not later than February 15, the court must choose a measure of restraint against him. On February 12, the Ingodinsky District Court of Chita extended the term of his detention for three days, as well as the detention of believers Pavel Mamalimov and Sergey Kirilyuk. Vladimir Yermolayev was placed under house arrest.

Raids in Transbaikalia took place at least at 40 addresses, 28 people were detained, one was beaten. Read how events developed

Case of Ermolaev and Others in Chita

Case History
Vladimir Ermolaev, Aleksandr Putintsev, Sergey Kirilyuk and Igor Mamalimov faced prosecution for their faith in 2020, when security forces carried out 50 searches in Chita and other cities in Transbaikalia. During the raid, several believers were detained and two were tortured. Mamalimov, Kirilyuk and Ermolaev were placed in a temporary detention facility, where they spent several days. At some point, four more believers were suspects in the case, but their criminal prosecution was discontinued. For holding peaceful religious services, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation accused Ermolaev, Putintsev, Mamalimov and Kirilyuk of organizing the activity of an extremist organization. Despite the fact that there were no victims in the case and there was no evidence of crimes against the state and the individual, in 2022 the court sentenced Vladimir Ermolaev, Aleksandr Putintsev and Igor Mamalimov to imprisonment in a penal colony for 6 to 6.5 years, and Sergey Kirilyuk - to 6 years suspended. The court of appeal upheld this verdict. The courts of appeal and cassation did not change this verdict.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Trans-Baikal Territory
Locality:
Chita
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, he "took active organizational actions ... expressed in the organization of meetings, the organization of religious speeches and worship ... fundraising under the guise of donations... involvement of new participants... by carrying out the preaching work."
Court case number:
12002760023000001
Initiated:
January 20, 2020
Current case stage:
The verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Trans-Baikal Territory
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-10/2022
Court of First Instance:
Центральный районный суд г. Читы
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Марина Куклина
[i18n] Гособвинитель:
Ковыльченко Д. Г.
Case History