The Case of Kalinnikova and Potapova in Kurilsk

Kirill Deshko, investigator of the Korsakov Interdistrict Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, issues a decision to initiate a criminal case under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation against Larisa Potapova and Olga Kalinnikova.

The ruling states: "In the course of the procedural check, it was established that since 2013, Potapova and Kalinnikova have been members of a religious organization, the Jehovah's Witnesses religious group, consisting of residents of the Sakhalin Region professing the faith of Jehovah's Witnesses."

Judge of the Kurilsk District Court Nikita Kucherov orders searches of believers from Kurilsk and Reidovo.

Olga Kalinnikova and Larisa Potapova are being searched. They start early in the morning and last more than three hours. Kalinnikova's apartment at this time is a minor daughter. Electronic devices, flash drives, books, personal records, passports and photographs are seized from women.

After the searches, the women are taken to the investigative committee for interrogation, which is conducted by investigator Deshko. In the presence of the school psychologist and her older brother, Kalinnikova's 13-year-old daughter is interrogated.

Women are taken on a written undertaking not to leave and proper behavior and allowed to go home.

Investigator Kirill Deshko issues a decision to bring Potapova and Kalinnikova as accused of participating in the activities of an extremist organization.

Another criminal case is being opened against Potapova and Kalinnikova under Part 1.1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization) because they talked with a fellow villager on biblical topics.

Investigator Deshko expands the indictment against Olga Kalinnikova and Larisa Potapova. He charges them with involving a person in the activities of an extremist organization.

The case of Olga Kalinnikova and Larisa Potapova is submitted to the Kuril District Court of the Sakhalin Region for consideration by Judge Stepan Yakin.

The sons of Kalinnikova and Potapova are present at the hearing. Judge Stepan Yakin establishes the identities of the defendants and then recuses himself.

The case is transferred to another judge, Nikita Kucherov.

Judge Nikita Kucherov also recuses himself and decides to send the case of Olga Kalinnikova and Larisa Potapova to the Sakhalin Regional Court to resolve the issue of changing territorial jurisdiction. The measure of restraint for believers remains unchanged.

The case of Olga Kalinnikova and Larisa Potapova is being transferred to the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk City Court of the Sakhalin Region.

Consideration of the case begins for the third time. The defendants, who live on Iturup Island, traveled 450 km to attend the hearing on Sakhalin Island. In this regard, believers are asking to hold further hearings via video conferencing. The judge refuses.

Of the 40 people who came to the courthouse, 7 are allowed to the hearing. The judge writes down their names and informs them that those present in the courtroom cannot be questioned in court as witnesses.

Believers come forward with their own attitude to the accusation. Larisa Potapova informs the court that she has never been associated with the "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" and did not continue its activities after its liquidation. Olga Kalinnikova says that since 2017, there have been six rulings refusing to initiate criminal proceedings against her. She is perplexed: "Nothing has changed during this time. Neither the circumstances of the case nor my behavior have changed, I have not become worse."