Case of Aleksandr Ursu in Dzhankoy

Case History

At the end of April 2026, a criminal case was initiated against elderly Aleksandr Ursu from Dzhankoy. The local Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation conducted searches. The court imposed a ban on certain actions for Ursu; later, he was placed under a recognizance agreement. Since childhood, the peaceful believer has faced repression for his religious beliefs. His son, Viktor, has also been persecuted for his faith — he is serving a sentence in a penal colony.
Timeline

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    Case initiated Art. 282.2 (1) CC RF Search Interrogation Elderly Prosecution of several family members

    Major of Justice Daniil Grankov, Deputy Head of the Investigative Department, initiates a criminal case on suspicion of organizing the activity of an extremist organization.

    Apart from Aleksandr Ursu, the searches affected two more believers from Dzhankoy. Force was used against them in order to gain access to their electronic devices.

    During the interrogation, Aleksandr Ursu uses his right to not testify against himself and his relatives.

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    Prohibition of certain actions Electronic ankle tag Interrogation Elderly

    Investigator Grankov requests the Dzhankoy District Court place Aleksandr Ursu under house arrest.

    The lawyer requests a more lenient preventive measure — a ban on certain actions. He explains that Ursu's wife has serious health problems and Aleksandr is responsibile for all household issues.

    The court agrees with the position of the defense. Aleksandr is forbidden to leave his apartment in the period from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. the next day, to leave Dzhankoy, to use communications and the Internet. The elderly believer is fitted with a tracking bracelet.

    On the same day, Aleksandr was summoned for interrogation to the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. The believer spends about 8 hours there.

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    Elderly Art. 282.2 (1) CC RF

    Investigator Grankov charges Aleksandr Ursu for reading and discussing the Bible with friends.

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    Recognizance agreement Elderly

    Senior Investigator for Particularly Important Cases of the First Investigative Department A. G. Rudoy takes a recognizance agreement from Aleksandr Ursu.

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