Case of Skudaev in Kurgan

Nikolay Astapov, Investigator for Particularly Important Cases of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Kurgan Region, initiates a criminal case under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code against Sergey Skudaev and other unidentified persons 12102370012000106.

According to the investigation, Skudaev "carried out ... religious meetings... including through video conferencing using the Zoom platform."

At 7:00 a.m., the security forces wake up Sergey and Irina Skudayev with a loud knock on the door. Upon entering, they lay the believer face down on the floor, but then allow him to rise. Law enforcement officers conduct a thorough search, while behaving respectfully.

Electronic devices, 50 wedding cards, a book by religious scholar S. I. Ivanenko about Jehovah's Witnesses, personal notes and a small amount of money received from the sale of honey were seized from believers, considering this proof of "financing a banned organization." During the search, Irina becomes ill from the stress she has experienced, she is allowed to take medicine.

Sergey is detained and placed in a temporary detention facility. Investigator Astapov officially involves the believer as a defendant in a criminal case.

Later, the believer recalls that he had previously noticed surveillance of himself: a woman came, who, posing as a bailiff, interviewed neighbors, asked "in which direction the door opens" from the Skudaevs.

Judge of the Kurgan City Court Alexander Schneider chooses a measure of restraint for Sergey Skudaev in the form of detention for a period of 2 months, that is, until September 13, 2021.

Sergey Skudaev is informed of a positive test result for covid. He suffers from cough and chest pain, has a high fever and has no sense of smell or taste. He is isolated from other prisoners, but no medical treatment is provided.

A lawyer visits a believer in a pre-trial detention center. It turns out that Sergey Skudaev is still not receiving any medical care. The authorities of the medical unit and the pre-trial detention center do not respond to the believer's written requests to conduct an examination, taking into account the consequences of covid, as well as to deal with the procedure for conducting the examination.

Sergey Skudaev went to court to extend the measure of restraint with 10 other prisoners. One man said that he was sitting in the same cell with two Jehovah's Witnesses. He willingly told everyone for 2 hours what the followers of this religion believed and why they were worthy of respect.

In the pre-trial detention center, Sergey Skudaev is visited by a lawyer. He finds out that the believer suffered a coronavirus without treatment, he was not given drugs, but now everything is fine. Does exercises, monitors health. The cell is warm, there is enough food. The believer has good relations with his cellmates, they do not smoke, they wash their hands. Sergey is receiving letters of support, but the Bible is still being checked by the censor.

In the morning, searches of Jehovah's Witnesses are carried out in Kurgan. Security forces seize electronic devices. The couple is taken to the Investigative Committee for interrogation.

The search of another believer is taking place despite the fact that on this day the man buries his mother, who died from coronavirus infection. Immediately after the funeral, the believer is forced to come to the Investigative Committee for interrogation.

In addition, a search is being conducted at the home of an elderly woman in the village of Zverinogolovskoye. This is the second time that security forces have invaded her home.

The court releases Sergey Skudaev from custody. A new measure of restraint is chosen for him - a ban on certain actions. The believer spent more than 4 months in prison.

A search is underway in a large family. Phones and tablets are seized from the spouses, and after the search they are taken to the Investigative Committee for interrogation.

Sergey Skudaev's case is submitted to the Kurgan City Court of the Kurgan Region and appointed to Judge Yevgeny Kolesov.

Hearings begin in the Kurgan City Court. About 60 people come to support the believer, which surprises the bailiffs.

Prosecutor S. V. Volynsky reads out the charge, Sergei Skudaev expresses his attitude towards him, citing quotes from the Bible. The state prosecutor, the secretary and the lawyer listen attentively.

The questioning of prosecution witnesses begins. Of the five invitees, only one comes. Answering the questions of the state prosecutor, he mainly enjoys the right not to testify against himself and his relatives.

40 people who came to support the defendant are allowed to attend the hearing.

One of the prosecution witnesses is being questioned. Answering questions, he uses Article 51 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation. The other 10 witnesses do not appear in court and their testimony is read out.

The first 10 volumes of the case materials are considered.

The court is interrogating a secret witness, Konstantin Konstantinov, who was twice present at the services of Jehovah's Witnesses. He confirms that the Bible was studied on them, and notes that "the atmosphere was trusting."

The defendant submits motions for a larger room and for the declassification of secret witnesses. The judge rejects them.

About 40 people come to the hearing. A secret witness under the pseudonym Murzabekova, whose voice has been changed to male, is being interrogated. Talking about himself, the witness speaks either in the masculine or in the feminine gender. According to her, she attended worship services of Jehovah's Witnesses before 2017 and is personally acquainted with the defendant. To the questions: where, when and how Muzarbekova met Sergey Skudaev, why she began to study the Bible and what was the atmosphere among believers, the secret witness does not give answers, referring to Article 51 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

The defense, considering the materials of the case, explains how the services of Jehovah's Witnesses are held. At the same time, the judge repeatedly stops Sergey Skudaev. The defense objected to the actions of Judge Yevgeny Kolesov.

The court rejects Skudaev's petition to refuse a lawyer by appointment.

The believer gives explanations on the materials of the case. He draws attention to the content of audio recordings of worship services of Jehovah's Witnesses: those present discuss how to show love for others, how to take care of their own families, how to obey the authorities. "This is the exact opposite of what I am accused of – extremism," Skudaev emphasizes.

The judge repeatedly interrupts the defendant, not allowing him to read out excerpts from historical, scientific or religious publications in the case file. The defendant objects.

At the beginning of the hearing, Sergey Skudaev announced the disqualification of the judge, but the court refused.

He then points out that, in the last three sessions, the judge had repeatedly interrupted him during the examination of the written evidence. According to Skudaev, such actions of the court hinder the defense. The defendant also notes that the prosecution only superficially read out the materials of the 23 volumes of the criminal case. He says: "I want to announce the contents of these documents to the court in order to show that they have no evidentiary value."

The defense continues to examine the case materials.

The court is considering the 4th and 5th volumes of the case materials. During the examination of the examination carried out by a religious expert, Skudaev asks the judge to pay attention to the research part, which, in his opinion, directly contradicts the conclusions of the expert. Thus, the expert concludes about the superiority of Jehovah's Witnesses over other religions, referring to an excerpt from the audio recording of the meetings for worship, where it is said that a believer should show love and kindness to people, be humble, meek, fair, respect the higher authorities, and pay taxes. The judge refuses to announce the research part of the examination, explaining that the conclusions in it have already been made and the defendant only wants to drag out the process.

Skudaev draws attention to the fact that religious, not legal, issues are examined at the trial. He stressed that practicing religion was not a crime. The defendant asks the judge to indicate whether there are any signs of extremism in the song that is heard at one of the services, as well as to read out the definition of extremism from the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of April 20, 2017. The judge denies.

15 people come to the hearing to support the believer.

The defense submits case materials for consideration. The judge refuses to examine documents related to the repressions of Jehovah's Witnesses in Nazi Germany and the USSR.