Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

One of Jehovah's Witnesses Arrested in Chuvashia. His Home Was Searched 6 Years Ago

Chuvashia

On March 7, 2026, the Moskovskiy District Court of Cheboksary sent Albert Pilshchikov, 45, to a pretrial detention center. A day earlier, he was detained in Naberezhnye Chelny on the grounds of a criminal case.

In 2020, Albert, who lived in Cheboksary at the time, was among the believers whose homes were searched by law enforcement officers.

Over the past 9 years, criminal cases have been initiated against 10 Jehovah's Witnesses in Chuvashia. These believers are mostly elderly people. One of the defendants received a 5-year suspended sentence — he will be 90 by the time he has served it.

The Case of Pilshchikov in Cheboksary

Case History
In November 2020, security officers conducted a search at the home of Albert Pilshchikov in Cheboksary. More than five years later, a criminal case was opened against the believer under an extremism-related charge, and he was placed in a pre-trial detention center. Eight days later, the measure of restraint was changed to house arrest.
Timeline

Persons in case

Pilshchikov
Albert

Criminal case

Region:
Chuvashia
Locality:
Cheboksary
Suspected of:
“carried out active organizational actions aimed at continuing the unlawful activities of the Organization banned by the court, which were expressed in exercising overall leadership of a religious group (a congregation)” (from the decision to initiate the criminal case)
Court case number:
12607970001000018
Initiated:
March 6, 2026
Current case stage:
preliminary investigation
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the Federal Security Service of Russia for the Chuvash Republic
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Case History
Back to top