Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

Searches on Kuril Islands. Criminal Case Initiated Against Two Women for Their Faith

Sakhalin Region

On November 23, 2023, on Iturup Island security forces searched the homes of two women who practice the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. Olga Kalinnikova, 47, and Larisa Potapova, 59, were placed under a recognizance agreement.

A three-hour search took place in the apartment of Olga Kalinnikova, who lives with her minor daughter in the town of Kurilsk. The operation was led by K.P. Deshko, investigator of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Sakhalin Region. Electronic devices, various data storage devices, notebooks and personal notes were seized from Kalinnikova. According to her, law enforcement officers spoke rudely about the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses.

On the same day, at about 9 a.m., representatives of the border guards of the FSB of Russia with two attesting witnesses went to Larisa Potapova, who lives in the village of Reidovo. The security forces seized the Bible and other books, as well as video discs. The believer's elderly mother who is 87, felt ill as her blood pressure rose sharply due to great stress. After the search, Larisa was interrogated in the investigator's office.

The Korsakov Interdistrict Investigative Department of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation had already initiated a criminal case against Olga Kalinnikova and Larisa Potapova on October 12, 2023. Investigators suspect the women of "extremist activity," by which they mean conversations with local residents about God.

On Sakhalin, this is the fourth criminal case for believing in God.

The Case of Kalinnikova and Potapova in Kurilsk

Case History
In November 2023, in the city of Kurilsk and the village of Reydovo, searches were carried out in the homes of two believing women, one of whom has a minor daughter. The criminal case against Olga Kalinnikova and Larisa Potapova was initiated a month earlier. They were accused of spreading the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Sakhalin region. After 5 months, the believers were also accused of involving a local resident in the activities of an extremist organization. A recognizance agreement was taken from the women. In May 2024, they were added to the Rosfinmonitoring list. At the same time, the case was submitted to the court of the city of Kurilsk. After the self-recusal of two judges, the case was transferred to the court of the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk for another trial.
Timeline

Persons in case

Kalinnikova
Olga
Potapova
Larisa

Criminal case

Region:
Sakhalin Region
Locality:
Kurilsk
Suspected of:
"The active actions of Potapova and Kalinnikova were expressed, among other things, in conducting conversations, teaching religion and religious education of the inhabitants of the Kuril region ... declination... to participate in activities in an extremist organization in the implementation of conspiracy measures"
Court case number:
12302640018000078
Initiated:
October 12, 2023
Current case stage:
trial in court of first instance
Investigating:
Korsakovskiy Interdistrict Investigative Department of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Sakhalin Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2), 282.2 (1.1)
Court case number:
1-14/2024
Court of First Instance:
Yuzhno-Sakhalinskiy City Court, Sakhalin Region
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Maria Manaeva
Case History
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