The Case of Byche and Others in Vladivostok

Case History

After a series of searches in Vladivostok in March 2023, three Jehovah’s Witnesses were detained and placed in a temporary detention facility. Two days later, Yegor Pogrebnyak was released under house arrest, and Yuriy Byche and Sergey Novoselov were sent to a pre-trial detention center. The believers initiated a criminal case under an extremist article. A little later in the same month, Tatyana Kazakova, Marina Roslova, Alina Tkachenko, Anastasia Dyldina and Elena Romanova became defendants in the case. In December of the same year, after new searches, Kirill Chekolaev was arrested. He spent about 5 months in the pre-trial detention center, and Novoselov and Byche spent almost a year. All three were released under a ban on certain actions. In April 2025, charges were brought against two more believers: Anatoliy Baranov and Kirill Krymsky.
Timeline

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    Case initiated Art. 282.2 (1) Art. 282.2 (1.1) Art. 282.2 (2)

    Investigator of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Primorsky Territory D. A. Shevchenko issued a decision to initiate a criminal case against unidentified persons.

    The investigator interprets the communication of believers as "using the Internet to hold meetings and involve persons in the activities of an extremist organization" and decided to initiate a criminal case under part 1, part 1.1 and part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

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    Search Art. 282.2 (1) Art. 282.2 (1.1) Art. 282.2 (2) Case initiated House arrest Interrogation Temporary detention facility Recognizance agreement

    Security forces are conducting searches in the homes of citizens suspected of practicing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. Yuriy Byche, Sergey Novoselov, Yegor Pogrebnyak, as well as several women, are taken away for interrogation: Anastasia Dyldina, Elena Romanova, Marina Roslova, Alina Tkachenko and Tatyana Kazakova. Subsequently, women are released on recognizance agreement, while men are detained and sent to a temporary detention facility.

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    Detention center House arrest

    For Yuriy Byche and Sergey Novoselov, the court chooses a restriction measure in the form of detention, for Yegor Pogrebnyak - house arrest.

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    Detention center

    Sergey Novoselov and Yuriy Byche are held in cells, where in addition to them there are 4 more prisoners. The believers have respectful relations with them and the administration.

    The state of health of Yuriy and Sergey is satisfactory. Immediately after entering the pre-trial detention center, Sergey caught a cold. Since the TV is constantly working in the camera, he has to use earplugs. Yuri's lower back pain intensified.

    Believers receive a large number of letters. They have some parts of the Bible – the Psalter and the New Testament.

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    Art. 282.2 (1.1)

    The investigation is charging another believer under part 1.1 and part 2 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation — Tatyana Maz.

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    Violence by law enforcement officers Search Elderly

    A new series of searches. This time, one believer is beaten, and the other, 19-year-old Kirill Chekolaev, is taken into custody.

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    Detention center

    The court decides to imprison 19-year-old Kirill Chekolaev in a pre-trial detention center for 2 months.

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    Detention center

    The investigator allowed Yuriy Bycha to meet with his wife and eldest daughter.

    Yuri is being held in a cell with several other detainees, with whom he develops a respectful relationship. He is the eldest of them.

    Yuriy receives letters, it is possible to receive parcels.

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    Detention center

    Sergey Novoselov receives permission to meet with his family.

    Sergey's cellmates often change, but thanks to his sociability and peaceful attitude, he has good relations with everyone. He receives letters with words of support, as well as parcels.

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    Detention center

    The detained 19-year-old Kirill Chekolayev was transferred to a regular cell in a pre-trial detention center. During quarantine, he suffered a severe cold. The believer has not yet received parcels and parcels, but several letters have already arrived. He does not lose heart, keeps calm and confident. With the permission of the investigator, Kirill had a meeting with his father.

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    Detention center Prohibition of certain actions

    Yuriy Byche and Sergey Novoselov were released from the pre-trial detention center. The measure of restraint for them has been replaced by a ban on certain actions.

    Kirill Chekolayev's detention in the pre-trial detention center is extended for another 3 months.

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    Prohibition of certain actions

    Kirill Chekolayev is released under a ban on certain actions. He spent about 5 months in the pre-trial detention center.

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    Art. 282.2 (2)

    The investigation will reclassify the charges against Yegor Pogrebnyak and Kirill Chekolaev from part 1 to part 2 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code.

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    Interrogation

    A new suspect appears in the case - 57-year-old Anatoly Baranov, who was searched in December 2023. He is interrogated.

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    Art. 282.2 (2) Interrogation

    Investigator Denis Sushchenko charges Anatoliy Baranov under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and interrogates him.

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    Art. 282.2 (2) Art. 282.3 (1)

    Kirill Krymsky, 37, is being prosecuted under two articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation - participation in the activities of an extremist organization and its financing.

    Investigator Denis Sushchenko considers it a sign of extremism that "Krymsky played the communicative role of assistant to the host during weekly religious meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses, read a prayer for Jehovah God."
    The investigation bases the accusation against Krymskiy and other believers involved in this case on the testimony of an embedded agent, S. I. Sergeenko.

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