Case of Naumenko in Konakovo

Sergey Erofeev, senior investigator of the FSB of Russia in the Tver region, opens a criminal case against Aleksandr Starikov for discussing the Bible with fellow believers via videoconferencing, and also talking about Bible teachings to the residents of Konakovo district.

A similar case is being initiated against Sergey Naumenko. Subsequently, both cases are merged into one.

Security Forces Search Jehovah's Witnesses in Konakovo. Among them are the families of Kuznetsov and Naumenko. At 8 am, people in firefighters' clothes knock on Sergey Naumenko's door under the pretext that the neighbors had an emergency. As a result, investigator Aleksey Korshunov, district police officer Medvedev with a weapon and two testifying witnesses enter the apartment. The security forces say that they "try to act according to the law," but in response to Sergey's refusal to give them the phone, they threaten to use force.

Operatives are also conducting a search of Aleksandr Starikov in Ivanovo. He moved there from Konakovo to take care of his 95-year-old father. FSB officers Sergey Erofeev, Aleksandr Blinov and Vladislav Motorkin participate in the search. They take into account the request of the believer not to frighten or disturb his elderly father and conduct a search without any violence or pressure.

Electronic equipment and storage media, bank cards, personal records are confiscated from believers, and even school diaries are being confiscated from Naumenko. Aleksandr and Sergey are taken away for interrogation. They are charged and released on recognizance agreement.

On the same day, law enforcement officers search the garage and car of Aleksandr Starikov. In total, investigative measures against the believer last about 8 hours.

Starikova and Naumenko are included in the list of terrorists and extremists of Rosfinmonitoring, their personal accounts are blocked.

Investigator Erofeev charges Starikov, Naumenko, Kuznetsov, Katarov and Shchetinin. The ruling states that between 2018 and 2021, the men "discussed issues of the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses ... conducted a study of religious materials." The investigation considers these actions "aimed at involving Jehovah's Witnesses in an extremist organization." All men are interrogated.

The case goes to the Konakovo City Court of the Tver Region and is transferred to Judge Yekaterina Vershinina.

The prosecutor announces the indictment, the accused express their attitude to it. Aleksandr Shchetinin and Oleg Katamov say that extremism is absolutely unacceptable for them and that for years they have been peacefully professing a faith based on love for God and neighbor.

Katamov adds: "I have the impression that in order to avoid criminal liability, I must renounce my religious beliefs or stop expressing them. But this is nothing but discrimination."

Sergey Naumenko says: "I have never had and could never have had a motive of hatred or enmity. Moreover, in his youth... I asked to replace military service with alternative civilian service, since my conscience does not allow me to even "learn to fight". For three and a half years I worked in a psychiatric hospital as a ward orderly. I wonder how a person can be called an extremist just because of his religious beliefs."

Aleksandr Starikov notes: "Joint discussion of the Bible and prayer are an expression of my faith and love for God, not extremism ... Therefore, I was deeply shocked by the accusation of extremism."

Prosecution witnesses are being questioned.

The prosecutor requests punishment: for Shchetinin, Kuznetsov, Katamov and Starikov - 8 years in a general regime colony with restriction of freedom for a term of 1 year 6 months, for Sergey Naumenko - 7 years in a colony with restriction of freedom for a term of 1 year.

After that, the defense takes the floor in the debate. "What did we see and hear at this trial? The lawyer asks. - What words were most often heard from the lips of the defendants themselves, witnesses, on audio recordings of conversations and meetings for worship? "Bible", "God", "Jehovah", "love", "kindness", "gratitude". Why is there nothing extremist in the case on charges of extremism?"

The defendants make their final statement.

The judge pronounces sentence on four believers. She separates the case against Naumenko into a separate proceeding and suspends it.

It becomes known that Sergey Naumenko is in the Tver pre-trial detention center No 1.

Naumenko's case goes to court. It will be considered by Judge Roman Sinyukhin.