The case of Ogoreva in Mednogorskiy

Case History

The Ogorev family from the village of Mednogorskiy faced a search of their home in November 2021, when Svetlana and her mother were witnesses in the case of Aleksey Pasynkov. After 2 years, the security forces again came to search their home. The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against Svetlana. The investigator considered conversations through messengers with friends about the Holy Scriptures, the performance of religious songs and prayers to Jehovah God as extremism. The case went to court in July 2024 but was soon returned to the prosecutor to eliminate the shortcomings. In November, second court hearings began. A month later, the case was transferred to another district court.

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    Senior investigator V. A. Boranukov initiates a criminal case against Svetlana Ogoreva, who was previously a witness in the case against Alexei Pasynkov. The investigator considers communication through instant messengers with fellow believers, participation in worship services using the Internet and discussion of quotes from the Bible to be signs of a "crime".

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    Investigator V. A. Boranukov, accompanied by the head of the CPE, Azat Dzhamturiev, comes to Svetlana Ogoreva and her mother with a search. Women call the district police officer, in which the search takes place in a more relaxed atmosphere. However, Svetlana's mother becomes ill, she calls an ambulance. During the 4-hour search, law enforcement officers seized Bibles, electronic devices and personal records. On the same day, Svetlana is interrogated.

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    Lieutenant Anuar Khasanov, an investigator of the Zelenchuk Interdistrict Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, brings Svetlana Ogoreva as an accused.

    According to the investigation, Svetlana "took part in the activities of a religious association," and also "by means of remote communication (the Internet) maintained contacts with persons professing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses in order to participate in divine services and study the Holy Scriptures with reading and discussing quotations from the Bible."

    Svetlana is chosen a preventive measure in the form of a recognizance not to leave.

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    The case is submitted to the Urup District Court of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic for consideration by Judge Galina Evsegneeva.

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    During the hearing, the judge draws attention to the absence of the signature of the investigating authority in the indictment. In this regard, the case is returned to the prosecutor.

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    It turns out that the case of Svetlana Ogoreva has again been submitted to court.

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    During the preliminary hearing, Judge Galina Yevsegneeva recused herself.

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    Based on the decision of the Supreme Court of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Svetlana Ogoreva's case is transferred to the Zelenchuksky District Court, which is twice as close to her home. The case will be considered by Judge Fatima Borlakova.

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