The case of Starikov and Others in Konakovo

Sergey Erofeev, a senior investigator of the FSB of Russia in the Tver region, is initiating a criminal case against 61-year-old Alexander Starikov for discussing the Bible with fellow believers via video conferencing, and also talking about Bible teachings to residents of the Konakovo district.

A similar case is being initiated against 34-year-old Sergey Naumenko. Subsequently, both cases are merged into one. Sergey Erofeev, a senior investigator of the FSB of Russia in the Tver region, is initiating a criminal case against 61-year-old Alexander Starikov for discussing the Bible with fellow believers via video conferencing, and also talking about Bible teachings to residents of the Konakovo district.

A similar case is being initiated against 34-year-old Sergey Naumenko. Subsequently, both cases are merged into one.

Law enforcers are conducting searches at the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses in Konakovo. Among them are the Kuznetsov and Naumenko families. At 8 a.m., people in firefighters' clothes knocked on Sergey Naumenko's door under the pretext that their neighbors had an emergency. As a result, investigator Aleksey Korshunov, district policeman Medvedev with weapons and two attesting witnesses enter the apartment. The law enforcers say that they "try to act in accordance with the law," but in response to Sergey's refusal to give them the phone, they threaten to use force.

In addition, operatives are conducting a search at the home of Alexander Starikov in the city of Ivanovo. He moved there from Konakovo to take care of his 95-year-old father. FSB officers Sergey Yerofeev, Aleksandr Blinov and Vladislav Motorkin participate in the search. They take into account the believer's request not to frighten or disturb his elderly father and conduct the search without any violence or pressure.

Electronic equipment and storage media, bank cards, personal records were confiscated from believers, and even school diaries were confiscated from Naumenko. Alexander and Sergey are taken away for interrogation. They are charged and released on recognizance agreement.

On the same day, law enforcement officers searched the garage and car of Alexander Starikov. In total, investigative measures against the believer last about 8 hours.

Alexander Starikov and Sergey Naumenko are included in the list of terrorists and extremists of Rosfinmonitoring, their personal accounts are blocked.

Investigator Erofeev charges Aleksandr Starikov, Sergey Naumenko, Aleksey Kuznetsov, Oleg Katamov and Aleksandr Shchetinin. The ruling states that between 2018 and 2021, the men "discussed matters of the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses ... conducted a study of religious materials." The investigation considers these actions "aimed at involving Jehovah's Witnesses in an extremist organization." All five men are being interrogated.

The case of Aleksandr Starikov and four other believers is submitted to the Konakovo City Court of the Tver Region and transferred to Judge Ekaterina Vershinina.

The prosecutor announces the indictment, the accused express their attitude to it. Alexander Shchetinin and Oleg Katamov declare that extremism is absolutely unacceptable for them and they have been peacefully professing a faith based on love for God and neighbor for more than one year.

Katamov adds: "I have the impression that in order to avoid criminal liability, I must renounce my religious beliefs or stop expressing them. But this is nothing less than discrimination."

Sergey Naumenko says: "I never had and could not have a motive of hatred or enmity. Moreover, in his youth... I asked to replace military service with alternative civilian service, because my conscience does not even allow me to "learn to fight." For three and a half years I worked in a psychiatric hospital as a ward orderly. I wonder how a person can be called an extremist just because of his religious beliefs."

Alexander Starikov notes: "Joint discussion of the Bible and prayer are an expression of my faith and love for God, not extremism ... That's why I was shocked to the core by the accusation of extremism."

Prosecution witnesses are being questioned.

Oleg Katamov, Alexey Kuznetsov and Alexander Shchetinin are included in the Rosfinmonitoring list. Their bank accounts are blocked.