Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

In the Town of Kodinsk, Krasnoyarsk Territory, One of Jehovah's Witnesses Was Detained After a Search

Krasnoyarsk Territory

Early on the morning of July 20, 2021 law enforcement officers conducted searches in Kodinsk, Krasnoyarsk Territory, at least five locations where Jehovah's Witnesses reside. According to preliminary data, one person was detained. Electronic devices were confiscated from peaceful believers.

Searches involving local FSB officers were authorized by R. I. Rogov, senior investigator of Investigative Division for Kezhemsky region of the Investigative Committee of RF for Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Republic of Khakassia.

Update. The next day, the investigator filed a petition with the Kezhemsky District Court to elect a measure of restraint in the form of house arrest for the detainee Ildar Urazbakhtin. Judge Grigory Garbuz granted the investigator’s request, restricting the believer’s freedom for 2 months. The argument that the 58-year-old Ildar is the sole breadwinner in the family, living with his disabled wife, was not taken into account. Recently, Ildar Urazbakhtin has been working as a technical inspector. The investigation suspects him of “committing a grave crime” under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, only because of discussing biblical teachings with friends.

The town of Kodinsk became the eighth settlement in Krasnoyarsk Territory where law enforcement officers persecute peaceful believers only because of their religion. Criminal cases were filed against 16 Jehovah's Witnesses there, and Andrey Stupnikov from Krasnoyarsk was sentenced to six years in prison for meeting with fellow believers and talking about the Bible.

Criminal prosecution of adherents of this religion violates Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, which guarantees freedom of religion for all. It also contradicts the official commentary of the Government of the Russian Federation, according to which the decision of the Supreme Court of April 20, 2017 "does not assess the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses."

Urazbakhtin case in Kodinsk

Case History
In 2021, after a series of searches of the homes of believers in Kodinsk, security forces detained Ildar Urazbakhtin. The next day he was placed under house arrest, and two months later he was placed under a recognizance agreement, which allowed the believer to once again care for his wife, who is visually impaired. The investigator considered ordinary manifestations of faith—prayers, reading the Bible, and singing songs—as activities that undermine the security of the State. Ildar Urazbakhtin was put on the Rosfinmonitoring list of extremists, and his financial accounts were blocked. In January 2022, the criminal case against the believer went to court. The prosecutor requested that he be sentenced to seven years in a penal colony. In October, the court gave Urazbakhtin a six-year suspended sentence with three years probation. The appellate court upheld this verdict.
Timeline

Persons in case

Urazbakhtin
Ildar

Criminal case

Region:
Krasnoyarsk Territory
Locality:
Kodinsk
Suspected of:
"carried out activities to coordinate the conduct of free private Bible studies for interested persons, as well as religious meetings."
Court case number:
12102040029000013
Initiated:
July 19, 2021
Current case stage:
The verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Republic of Khakassia
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-31/2022
Court of First Instance:
Кежемский районный суд Красноярского края
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Григорий Гарбуз
Case History