Case of Svetonosov and Semenyuk in Khabarovsk

According to investigators, a group of believers, including Sergey Semenyuk, Sergey Svetonosov, Valery Moskalenko, Yevgeny Aksenov, Nikolai Polevodov and Stanislav Kim, together with friends and acquaintances, gathers in one of the Khabarovsk conference rooms for joint reading and discussion of the Bible, chants and prayers.

Sergey Semenyuk and Sergey Svetnosov were interrogated as witnesses in the criminal case against Valery Moskalenko, their homes are searched, during which objects and documents are seized, which are subsequently used as evidence in the case against them.

D. Pozdnyakov, a senior investigator-criminalist of the investigation department of the FSB Directorate for the Khabarovsk Territory, initiates a criminal case for faith under Article 282.2 (2) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation against Yevgeniy Aksenov, Sergey Semenyuk and Sergey Svetonosov. According to investigators, they discussed the Bible with other people, which is interpreted as a continuation of extremist activity.

Semenyuk and Svetonosov were charged with committing a crime under Article 282.2 (2) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

A decision is made to search for Semenyuk and Svetonosov, they are put on the federal wanted list.

Investigator D. Pozdnyakov charges Sergey Semenyuk and Sergey Svetonosov in absentia and puts them on the international wanted list. According to investigators, both men are outside of Russia.

The Zheleznodorozhny District Court of Khabarovsk, in the absence of the accused, chooses a measure of restraint for both believers in the form of detention. Now returning to their homeland threatens them with immediate imprisonment.

Investigator Pozdnyakov decides to separate the criminal case against Semenyuk and Svetonosov into separate proceedings.