Case of Balashov and Others in Dimitrovgrad

Lieutenant D. B. Alushin, investigator of the Federal Security Service Directorate for the Ulyanovsk Region, initiates a criminal case. Igor Balashov is suspected of organizing the activity of an extremist organization; Igor Popov, Aleksandr and Irina Elizarov are suspected of participating in it. According to the investigator, the illicit actions were expressed in "assembling clandestine meetings, organizing religious talks and meetings for worship."

The investigator handed Balashov and Popov orders to bring them as accused.

Aleksandr and Irina Elizarov are charged under Article 282.2(2) of the RF CrC; both are being questioned as defendants.

Judge Sergey Maksimov of the Leninskiy District Court of Ulyanovsk issues a court order on selecting a preventive measure for Igor Balashov and Igor Popov — house arrest. Aleksandr and Irina Elizarov are sent to the pretrial detention center by the court.

Rakhmanov, acting head of the FSB's internal security unit, responds to a complaint from Igor Popov's wife, who claimed that her husband was tortured: "No violations of the current legislation of the Russian Federation have been established in the actions of the FSB officers."

Alexandr and Irina Elizarov are being transferred from pretrial detention center No. 1 in Ulyanovsk to pretrial detention center No. 3 in Inza.

During the month in this pretrial detention center, Alexandr received about 10 letters — significantly fewer than in the previous facility.

Alexandr and Irina see each other at preventive measure court hearings.

Irina Elizarova is held in a solitary cell on a cold, semi-basement floor. There is hot water, a television, and a refrigerator. The believer is regularly taken for walks.

During her time in pretrial detention, Irina has received a total of 220 letters.

It has become known that the Yelizarovs have been returned to pretrial detention center No. 1 of Ulyanovsk.

The Leninskiy District Court of Ulyanovsk extends house arrest for Igor Balashov and Igor Popov.

The defense presents the results of Balashov’s medical examination — the believer’s heart problems have worsened and the tremor in his hands has increased. The defense also submits additional documents: positive character references from the defendants’ neighbors, letters of appreciation from the schools attended by Igor Popov’s children, as well as from his workplace and the mayor of Dimitrovgrad.

The lawyer requests a less restrictive preventive measure, but the investigator believes that Balashov may abscond and obstruct the investigation. The defense asks whether there is any evidence for this, to which the investigator responds: “No.”