The case of Voropaeva in Krasnoyarsk

Case History

In November 2017, law enforcement officers in Krasnoyarsk began operational search measures against local Jehovah’s Witnesses: their telephone conversations were tapped, electronic messages were viewed, and hidden audio recordings of worship services were made. Secret informants were involved in the events. A year later, Natalya Voropaeva’s house was searched as part of a criminal case against her co-religionist Andrei Stupnikov. In September 2022, the Investigative Committee prosecuted Natalya Voropaeva as a defendant under an extremist article. She was chosen as a preventive measure in the form of a written undertaking not to leave. In January 2023, the case went to court, and 2 months later she was found guilty. The court imposed a fine of 360,000 rubles on her. The Court of Appeal upheld the verdict.
Timeline

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    November 2017 — November 2020 Search

    In the Krasnoyarsk Territory, operational search measures are being carried out against local Jehovah's Witnesses, including wiretapping, control of mail, and secret audio recordings of liturgical meetings. Embedded agents Salov and Kuzmin are involved in this.

    A criminal case is initiated against Andrey Stupnikov, in which Natalya Voropaeva is involved as a witness. Her apartment is examined, and a year later it is searched. During two interrogations, the believer consistently uses Article 51 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

    A decision is made to separate materials and objects against Natalia Voropaeva and 8 other believers from the materials of the criminal case of Alexander Stupnikov into a separate production.

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    March 5, 2021

    Evgeny Simon, Deputy Head of the Investigative Directorate for the Zheleznodorozhny District of Krasnoyarsk of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Republic of Khakassia, submits a report on the detection of signs of a crime in the actions of Natalia Voropaeva and 5 other believers.

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    September 5, 2022 Case initiated

    Senior Lieutenant of Justice Grigorieva opened a criminal case against Natalia Voropaeva on the grounds of a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. According to the investigation, she was involved in extremism, as she "participated ... in reading and discussing texts from the Bible... in the performance of religious chants and prayers."

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    September 6, 2022 Recognizance agreement

    During two regular interrogations, the believer is protected by Article 51 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

    Investigator Grigorieva chooses a measure of restraint against Natalia Voropaeva in the form of a written undertaking not to leave the place and proper behavior.

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    October 20, 2022

    Investigator M. A. Grigorieva makes a decision to bring Natalia Voropaeva as an accused.

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    November 21, 2022

    Investigator M. A. Grigorieva issues a decision to bring Natalia Voropaeva as a defendant under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in a new edition.

    The ruling states that Voropaeva participated in "reading and discussing texts from the Bible ... performing religious chants and prayers, watching video sermons."

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    January 17, 2023 Case went to court

    The criminal case against Natalia Voropaeva is submitted to the Zheleznodorozhny District Court of Krasnoyarsk. It will be considered by judge Ivan Ivanov.

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    March 23, 2023 Final statement

    "No court has banned the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses itself. Am I being judged for believing wrongly?" Natalia Voropaeva gives her last word.

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    March 24, 2023
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    May 25, 2023