Photo: search of believers (2016)

Photo: search of believers (2016)

Photo: search of believers (2016)

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

Fourth believer taken into custody in Tatarstan

Tatarstan

24-year-old Aydar Yulmetyev was arrested on May 29, 2018 in Naberezhnye Chelny, who is suspected of professing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. His arrest was preceded by mass searches in the homes of local citizens, as well as the arrest of 37-year-old Ilham Karimov, 30-year-old Vladimir Myakushin and 29-year-old Konstantin Matrashov. It is known that in relation to one of them, Vladimir Myakushin, a preventive measure in the form of detention for a period of 57 days, until July 25, 2018, was chosen.

Case of Karimov and Others in Naberezhnye Chelny

Case History
In May 2018, in Naberezhnye Chelny, security forces invaded 10 apartments of local residents with searches. Ilham Karimov, Vladimir Myakushin, Konstantin Matrashov and Aidar Yulmetyev were detained and sent to a pre-trial detention center for six months, after which they spent 2 to 3 months under house arrest. The reason for the criminal prosecution is faith in Jehovah God and communication with fellow believers. In November 2019, the Naberezhnye Chelny City Court returned the case to the prosecutor for revision due to falsifications on the part of the investigation. The case was not closed, the believers remained under recognizance not to leave. In December 2021, Judge Rustam Khakimov found the men guilty and sentenced them to suspended sentences: Myakushin to 3 years and 1 month, Yulmetyev to 2 years and 9 months, and Matrashov and Karimov to 2.5 years. All were also assigned a probationary period of 2 years. The Court of Appeal upheld this judgment of first instance on September 2, 2022.
Timeline

Persons in case

Yulmetyev
Aydar
Karimov
Ilkham
Matrashov
Konstantin
Myakushin
Vladimir

Criminal case

Region:
Tatarstan
Locality:
Naberezhnye Chelny
Suspected of:
according to the investigation he participated in religious services, which is interpreted as organising, participating in and recruiting others into the activity of an “extremist organisation” (with reference to the decision of the Russian Supreme Court on the liquidation of all 396 registered organisations of Jehovah’s Witnesses)
Court case number:
11802920009000256
Initiated:
May 25, 2018
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee for the Republic of Tatarstan
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1), 282.3 (1)
Court case number:
1-184/2021 (1-1963/2020)
Court:
Naberezhno-Chelninskiy City Court of the Republic of Tatarstan
Judge:
Rustam Khakimov
Case History
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