Sannikov Konstantin

Updated: May 2, 2024
Name: Sannikov Konstantin Evgenievich
Date of Birth: September 18, 1970
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1), 282.3 (1)
Time spent in prison: 1065 day in a pre-trial detention, -451 day in prison
Sentence: punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of 6 years 6 months with serving a sentence in a correctional colony of general regime, with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to leadership and participation in the work of public and religious organizations for a period of 5 years, with restriction of liberty for a period of 1 year
Currently held in: Penal Colony No. 8 for Republic of Tatarstan
Address for correspondence: Sannikov Konstantin Evgenievich, born in 1970, Penal Colony No. 8 for Republic of Tatarstan, ul. Bazovaya, 26, Almetyevsk, Republic of Tatarstan, 423450

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Biography

In August 2020, a criminal case was opened in Kazan against a peaceful believer, Konstantin Sannikov, under an extremist article only because of his faith. Two days later, he was detained and sent to a pre-trial detention center. In February 2023, the court sentenced the believer to 6.5 years in a penal colony.

Konstantin was born in September 1970 in Kazan. As a child, he went in for swimming, then became interested in fencing. He liked to play chess.

After graduating from school, Konstantin entered the medical college, and then the Kazan State Medical Institute. After graduating from the institute, he was hired as a pathologist at the Children's Republican Clinical Hospital. He also worked as a neuropsychiatrist in the city narcological dispensary. In 2003, he was hired as a doctor and forensic expert of the forensic department at the Republican Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination, where he worked until his arrest.

For high performance in his work, Konstantin was awarded the badge of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia, as well as a certificate of honor and gratitude from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tatarstan.

In 1992, Konstantin married Irina, with whom he studied at college. They had four children in the marriage. The family loves to spend time together: cooking, going out with friends and having picnics.

Konstantin knew that one of his father's hobbies was reading the Bible. That is why, when he had the opportunity to find out what this book was about, he gladly began to study it. After some time, he and his wife decided to live according to Christian principles.

The criminal prosecution of Konstantin affected both his physical and emotional state, as well as the condition of his wife and children, who suffered stress during the search. Konstantin's chronic diseases worsened. But despite the difficulties, the family tries to maintain a positive attitude.

Konstantin's relatives, as well as work colleagues who do not share his religious views, do not understand how this peaceful man could be condemned as an extremist just because he prays and reads the Bible.

Case History

In August 2020, the FSB of Tatarstan opened a criminal case against Konstantin Sannikov, a forensic doctor and father of 4 children. Conversations about the Bible with friends were considered to be the organization of the activities of an extremist organization. The believer was placed in a pre-trial detention center, and his bank accounts were blocked. He was allowed to see his wife and daughters only after 2 years. The case went to court in August 2021. The testimonies of the secret witnesses were untrue and indicated a personal dislike of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Despite this, in February 2023, the court sentenced Sannikov to 6.5 years in prison. The appellate court agreed with this decision in June of the same year, excluding additional restrictions from the verdict. The prosecutor appealed this decision, and the cassation sent the case back for a second appeal, which in December 2023 confirmed the believer’s original sentence. During the time spent in prison, his chronic diseases worsened.
Timeline