Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

A raid on Solikamsk believers. After the interrogations, three men were placed in a detention facility

Perm Territory

On July 28, 2020, law enforcers searched three addresses in Solikamsk. Five citizens of Russia, including women, were taken to the Investigative Committee building. After the interrogations, two believers were detained, as well as the husband of a local woman who does not share his wife's religious views. The news is being supplemented.

It became known that criminal investigation was initiated against 51-year-old believer Vladimir Timoshkin under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code. The case is under investigation by the Solikamsk investigation department of the Perm Region Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. Vladimir Timoshkin remains a suspect.

The special operation took place in the homes of spouses Timoshkin, spouses A., and A. S. The searches started early in the morning and lasted about five hours. Senior Investigator S. Kanafyev issued at least one of the search orders on the day of the search.

Update. According to updated data, searches were carried out at 4 addresses, six people were taken to law enforcement offices. Three men, including 58-year-old Vladimir Poltoradnev and 51-year-old Vladimir Timoshkin, were sent to the temporary detention facility by the security forces. The wife of a local believer and two women were released on the day of detention after interrogation. On July 30, the court placed Vladimir Timoshkin under house arrest. On another believer, the court imposed a measure of restraint in the form of a ban on certain actions. On July 31, the court chose house arrest for Vladimir Poltoradnev as a measure of restraint.

Earlier two Perm residents — Aleksandr Solovyov and Aleksei Metzger — were sentenced to a fine for talking to others about God and going to religious meetings with believers. Criminal proceedings were also initiated against another 6 local believers.

The case of Poltoradnev and Others in Solikamsk

Case History
In July 2020, the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee for the Perm Territory opened a criminal case against Vladimir Poltoradnev, Alexander Sobyanin and Vladimir Timoshkin from Solikamsk. By that time, law enforcement officers had been spying on them for a long time. After searches and interrogations, three believers ended up in a temporary detention facility. Then Sobyanin was released under a ban on certain actions, and Poltoradnev and Timoshkin were placed under house arrest for 2 and 3 months, respectively. Later, the measure of restraint of the latter was also changed to a ban on certain actions. After the investigation was repeatedly suspended and resumed, the case went to court in April 2023. Already in August, the judge found the believers guilty and fined: Alexander Sobyanin for 494 thousand rubles, Vladimir Poltoradnev for 638 thousand rubles and Vladimir Timoshkin for 512 thousand rubles. An appeal in November 2023 upheld the main part of the sentence, slightly mitigating the additional punishment.
Timeline

Persons in case

Sobyanin
Aleksandr
Poltoradnev
Vladimir
Timoshkin
Vladimir

Criminal case

Region:
Perm Territory
Locality:
Solikamsk
Suspected of:
"directly participated in religious meetings ... discussed with his followers issues and topics of a religious nature" (from the decision to prosecute as an accused)
Court case number:
12002570024000055
Initiated:
July 27, 2020
Current case stage:
The verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Solikamsk Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Perm Territory
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-180/2023
Court of First Instance:
Соликамский городской суд Пермского края
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Евгений Сергеев
Case History