Photo: Alexander Akopov, Shamil Sultanov and Konstantin Samsonov

Criminal Investigation and Trial

Aleksandr Akopov, Shamil Sultanov and Konstantin Samsonov were released from pre-trial detention center in Neftekumsk. They were put on electronic bracelets

Stavropol Territory

On December 5, 2019, the judge of the Neftekumskiy District Court, Oleg Kuts, released the believers from custody in the courtroom. All three were assigned a preventive measure in the form of a ban on certain actions. They spent almost a year in the pre-trial detention center.

The mitigation of the measure of restraint was petitioned by the investigator of the FSB Directorate for the Stavropol Territory, A. Astakhov, who investigates the "criminal" religion of young people. According to him, now believers will not be able to interfere with the investigation, since most of the necessary investigative actions have been completed.

Now Akopov, Sultanov and Samsonov will be able to live at home and even work, but they will have to wear special sensors that record their movements. They are forbidden to use mail, telephone and the Internet, communicate with witnesses in the case and change their place of residence.

The criminal case against the three Neftekumians is just one of 116 cases brought against peaceful believers across Russia. As a result of these religious persecutions, 8 people have already received prison sentences, others have been fined heavily. Three believers were acquitted.

Case of Samsonov and Others in Neftekumsk

Case History
In August 2017, security forces conducted a raid on believers from Neftekumsk during a picnic. More than half of the 18 detained persons were children, the elderly and disabled persons. In December 2018, the FSB initiated a criminal case for extremism. Homes of local believers were searched. Shamil Sultanov, Konstantin Samsonov and Aleksandr Akopov spent about a year in a detention center. The prosecution repeatedly called convicted persons as witnesses. Some of them did not know the defendants. The defense pointed to the fabrication of the case materials. In March 2022, the prosecutor requested 9 years in a penal colony for Samsonov and 8 years each for Akopov and Sultanov. In April 2022, the court sentenced Samsonov to 7.5 years in a penal colony, Akopov and Sultanov each received a fine of 500,000 rubles. Following the results of the appeal, in August 2022, Samsonov paid a fine of 400,000 rubles taking into account the time served in the detention center, while Akopov and Sultanov paid 250,000 rubles each. This decision was upheld by the court of cassation.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Stavropol Territory
Locality:
Neftekumsk
Suspected of:
“After the decision of Russia's Supreme Court to ban the activities...of the religious organization (of Jehovah's Witnesses)...he did not renounce his religious views.”
Court case number:
11807070001100084
Initiated:
December 7, 2018
Current case stage:
The verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the Directorate of the FSB of Russia for the Stavropol Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1), 282.3 (1)
Court case number:
1-1/2022 (1-46/2021)
Court:
Нефтекумский районный суд Ставропольского края
Judge:
Максим Мазикин
Case History