In Mayskoye, the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses were searched again. Two suspects are still at large

September 4, 2021 Kabardino-Balkaria

On the morning of August 31, 2021, in the city of Maysky (Kabardino-Balkaria), repeated searches were carried out in the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses, authorized by the Nalchik City Court. Vladimir Ponomarenko and Mykola Smaglo are suspected of "organizing extremist activities."

Refinement. The searches took place on September 2, not August 31, 2021.

The search of Vladimir Ponomarenko lasted 1.5 hours. Personal notes and documents previously submitted to the court regarding the searches of July 16, 2021 were seized from him. The investigation of Mykola Smaglo lasted 4 hours. They were led by FSB investigator Sergei Svetikov, who had previously been convicted of abuse of office. He seized the believer's phone, tablet, a memo on self-legal defense, and documents on the July searches. None of the believers were interrogated.

This time, law enforcement officers behaved politely and courteously. Within the framework of which criminal case the investigative actions took place is currently unknown.

Update.

At about 7 o'clock in the morning, when 52-year-old Nikolai Smaglo and his wife were going to work, and their son and daughter were going to school, security forces and FSB officers broke into the courtyard of their house. None of them introduced themselves, except for Major Sergei Svetikov. The whole family was very frightened. The investigator allowed the children to have breakfast and, after checking their briefcases, let them go to school. To conduct a search, he suggested that Nicholas find witnesses himself, and he called his neighbors. They were outraged by what was happening, since they had never noticed anything illegal about this family. Svetikov agreed with the witnesses that Smaglo is good people, but explained to them the guilt of the believers: "they continue to gather for worship via video link." Addressing the spouses, one of the operatives advised them to be called "in some other way, not Jehovah's Witnesses." Although the search took place in a calm atmosphere, the family members experienced great stress. Nikolay says: "All that day, my young daughter was very worried that masked police would come for her and take her out in handcuffs in front of the whole school."

The investigation of 48-year-old Vladimir Ponomarenko and his wife Irina was led by Oleksandr Ganzh. First, armed riot police inspected the houses, and then plainclothes law enforcement officers searched the believers' residential, non-residential premises and cars. Three security officials were present at the search 1.5 months ago. Despite the fact that the operatives behaved courteously, these events had a negative impact on the emotional and physical state. He began to wake up early with a feeling of anxiety and expectation that they would come to him again. Any persistent call to the gate causes stress and heart palpitations. His wife shares: "Such visits had a strong impact on health. The pressure began to rise, tachycardia appeared. I have diabetes mellitus, and stress and worries increase blood sugar, it has become more difficult for me to keep it under control.