Photo: Raid on believers in Astrakhan (June 2020). Photo source: Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation
In the early morning of 18 of November 2020, several families of local believers were searched in Nizhnekamsk (Tatarstan). Law enforcers seized electronic devices from at least 4 men. Seven people from 36 to 47 years old, including one woman, were taken for questioning. The news is being supplemented.
Update. FSB officers accompanied by OMON soldiers armed with assault rifles searched 12 apartments of believers and their relatives. There were minors in several families of the house. In one apartment they shouted: “Don’t move! - The law enforcement officers pointed their weapons at the sleeping woman, and in the other one, a married couple was thrown to the floor, their husband was handcuffed and taken away for questioning. During the searches, electronic devices, foreign passports, bank cards and personal records were seized. 12 people, including 3 women, were interrogated. One man was kept for more than 12 hours during interrogation. It is known that a criminal case was initiated under Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code. Believers are charged with continuing the activities of the local religious organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kazan. Employees of the Federal Security Service of Kazan and Naberezhnye Chelny participate in the investigation. Oleg Zorin, an employee of the Center to counteract extremism in the Republic of Tatarstan, participated in the interrogations.