The case of the Krupnovs and Others in Nikolsk

Case History

In October 2020, a criminal case was initiated against Yuriy Kim and unidentified persons. Armed law enforcement officers raided four apartments of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Nikolsk, Penza Region. To familiarize himself with the search materials, Yuriy Kim, 60, had to travel 120 kilometers from home. On his return from there, he was paralyzed and lost consciousness. Ambulance doctors did not have time to save him. In September 2021, Maya and Petr Krupnov were charged with participating in extremist activities. It was based on an audio recording made by an FSB agent. A month later, the case went to court. Many witnesses claimed that their preliminary testimony had been falsified. In December 2021, the court sentenced the couple to 2 years suspended and 8 months of restriction of freedom and ordered them to pay 42,000 rubles in legal costs. The court of appeal approved this decision. In November 2024, Petr Krupnov died due to illness.

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