Case of Khamatshin in Chelyabinsk

Case History

Maksim Khamatshin was a witness in the case of his fellow believer Yevgeniy Bushev. In June 2023, he himself became a defendant in a criminal case for his faith. A month later, investigator Chepenko, who is responsible for several criminal cases against Jehovah's Witnesses in the Chelyabinsk region, placed Khamatshin under recognizance agreement. In March 2024, he was interrogated as accused of organizing the activity of an extremist organization, and in May, the criminal case went to court.

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    Search

    Maksim Khamatshin's house is being searched as part of a criminal case against Yevgeny Bushev.

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    Case initiated

    Investigator of the Department of Internal Affairs of the Investigative Committee of Russia in the Chelyabinsk Region, Colonel of Justice Alexander Chepenko initiates a criminal case against Maxim Khamatshin. The believer is charged with organizing the activities of an extremist organization.

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    Interrogation Recognizance agreement

    Maksim is interrogated as a suspect. The interrogation lasts 20 minutes. The investigator takes a recognizance not to leave the place and proper behavior from the believer.

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    Interrogation

    The investigator of the Department of Internal Affairs of the Investigative Committee of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Chelyabinsk Region, Alexander Chepenko, makes a decision to bring Maxim Khamatshin as an accused.

    On the same day, he is interrogated.

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    Case went to court

    The case of Maksim Khamatshin is submitted to the Sovetsky District Court of the city of Chelyabinsk. It will be considered by judge Yulianna Vysokikh.

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    Hearing in a court of the first instance

    A preliminary hearing in the case is underway. Since the meeting is being held behind closed doors, a support group of 60 people is waiting outside.

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    Hearing in a court of the first instance

    The prosecutor announces the indictment. The lawyer and Maxim Khamatshin read out their attitude to the charges. Khamatshin states, among other things: "Within the framework of the criminal case, virtually any actions involving the joint confession of beliefs are unreasonably regarded as unacceptable, and the beliefs themselves, which imply the need for spiritual interaction, are considered extremist." In conclusion, he adds: "I do not fully admit my guilt in the crime imputed to me, I ask for an acquittal."

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    Hearing in a court of the first instance

    40 people come to the meeting to support the believer.

    The court examines the materials of the case, volumes 1 to 4.

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