Case History
In August 2020, in the cities of Yugorsk and Sovetskiy, searches were carried out at 9 addresses of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 16 people were taken away for interrogation. The Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case against Andrey Zhukov and Ivan Sorokin for organizing the activity of an extremist organization because of talking about the Bible with their friends. The believers were placed in a temporary detention facility, and the next day they were released under a recognizance agreement. A few months later, their accounts were blocked, which became a serious difficulty for the Zhukov family regarding the birth of their second child. In August 2021, Zhukov and Sorokin were also charged with involving others in the activity of an extremist organization. The case went to court in October of the same year. In August 2023, the court fully acquitted Zhukov and Sorokin. After 3 months, the court of appeal overturned the verdict. In February 2024, the case went to court for a new trial.