Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

Homes of Believers Searched in Vladivostok. One Beaten, Another Arrested

Primorye Territory

On December 7, 2023, searches were carried out in Vladivostok at addresses of believers, at least five, including the home of an elderly man. A believer, 19, was detained and placed in a pretrial detention center for 2 months, while another man was beaten by security forces.

Demanding he gives the password from his phone, the man was hit several times with a rubber truncheon. Later, he went to ER, where he was diagnosed with bruising on his internal organs. He reqires treatment.

During interrogation by the Investigative Committee, the believers were asked questions about their religious beliefs, as well as about their participation in meetings for worship of Jehovah's Witnesses. Also demands were made to incriminate fellow believers.

The searches and interrogations took place as part of the criminal case of Yuriy Byche and others in Vladivostok.

Apart from the victims of the December 7 search, another 26 Jehovah's Witnesses are being prosecuted in Vladivostok for their faith; six of whom have already been convicted.

The Case of Byche and Others in Vladivostok

Case History
After searches and detentions in Vladivostok in March 2023, Yegor Pogrebnyak was placed under house arrest, while Yuriy Byche and Sergey Novosyolov were held in a pretrial detention center. Soon, Tatyana Kazakova, Marina Roslova, Anastasiya Dyldina, Yelena Romanova, Tatyana Maz (case separated), and Alina Tkachenko (case dismissed) also became defendants in the criminal case under the extremist article. In December, new searches took place, after which Kirill Chekolaev was arrested. He spent about five months in a pretrial detention center; Novoselov and Byche — almost a year. All three were released under a ban on certain actions. In April 2025, charges were brought against Anatoliy Baranov and Kirill Krymskiy. They, as well as Dyldina and Pogrebnyak, were additionally charged with financing the activity of an extremist organization. In June, the case went to court.
Timeline

Persons in case

Baranov
Anatoliy
Krymskiy
Kirill
Chekolaev
Kirill
Dyldina
Anastasiya
Romanova
Yelena
Roslova
Marina
Tkachenko
Alina
Kazakova
Tatyana
Byche
Yuriy
Novoselov
Sergey
Pogrebnyak
Yegor

Criminal case

Region:
Primorye Territory
Locality:
Vladivostok
Suspected of:
"being on the territory of the city of Vladivostok ... carry out actions of an organizational nature to convene and hold meetings, directly participate in meetings, as well as to involve persons in the activities of an extremist organization, aimed at continuing the activities of a religious association", "realizing their criminal intent aimed at financing extremist activities, transferred funds" (from the decision to initiate a criminal case).
Court case number:
12302050030000008
Initiated:
February 26, 2023
Current case stage:
trial in court of first instance
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the Investigative Committe of the Russian Federation for the Primorye Territory
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2), 282.3 (1), 282.2 (1.1), 282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-137/2026 (1-270/2025)
Court of First Instance:
Frunzenskiy District Court of Primorye Territory
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Oksana Krasko
Case History
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