The Case of Odintsov in Snezhnogorsk

Senior investigator of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Murmansk Region S. B. Mikheev initiates a criminal case against 65-year-old Anatoly Odintsov. He is accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization.

Investigator Mikheev makes a decision to bring Odintsov as an accused.

Odintsov's wife is being interrogated. The investigator informs her that her husband is on the federal wanted list, and asks to tell him to appear for interrogation, threatening otherwise to send Anatoly to the pre-trial detention center.

Anatoliy Odintsov is being held in a cell in the pretrial detention center along with five other prisoners.

He remains cheerful, also due to the significant support provided by letters. He also has a Synodal Bible from the institution's library.

The case goes to the Polyarnyy District Court of the Murmansk Region.

Anatoliy Odintsov does not plead guilty: "All my actions were completely peaceful. I did not do anything that would indicate the continuation of the activities of any extremist organization."

The court changes the restriction measure for Anatoliy Odintsov: he is released from the pre-trial detention center and transferred to house arrest.

The defendant testifies in court and explains that he is an ordinary believer who did not commit illegal acts. He recalled that the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation did not ban either his religion or the right to profess his faith, and comments on the video recordings and testimonies of witnesses contained in the case file.

The believer petitions for the recusal of the expert Larisa Astakhova, as he considers her incompetent and interested. He asks the court to invalidate her conclusion and appoint a new independent examination.

The prosecutor requests punishment for Anatoliy Odintsov: a fine of 600,000 rubles.

Anatoliy Odintsov makes his final statement.

Anatoliy Odintsov is in pre-trial detention center No. 1 in the Murmansk region.