Severinchik Arthur

Updated: April 24, 2024
Name: Severinchik Arthur Vasilyevich
Date of Birth: October 27, 1968
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)
Time spent in prison: 2 day in a temporary detention facility, 26 day in a pre-trial detention
Current restrictions: Recognizance agreement
Sentence: Punishment in the form of 6 years 3 months of imprisonment, with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to leadership and participation in the work of public organizations for a period of 3 years, with restriction of liberty for a period of 1 year, punishment in the form of imprisonment shall be considered conditional with a probationary period of 3 years 6 months

Biography

On February 15, 2019, one of the most massive actions of intimidation of believers at that time took place in Surgut. Security forces broke into the homes of local residents throughout the city, some were tortured, and criminal cases were initiated against 19 people. One of them is Artur Severinchik. What is known about him?

Artur was born in 1968 in Vladivostok. He is a crane operator by profession, he is fond of fishing and amateur radio. As a child, he often fished with his father on a boat. Recently, he has been taking care of the garden and vegetable garden, repairing television equipment and other equipment.

Since 1990, Artur has been married to Irina, a preschool teacher and easel painter and graphic artist. A few years after the wedding, the couple made a conscious decision to live according to the precepts of Christ. According to Arthur, he always had faith in God, but he had no knowledge. Bible study helped both spouses strengthen their faith and see God's support in their lives. The family has four adult children, and at times they get together to go out into nature or go fishing together.

For the whole family, Arthur's imprisonment was a great shock. They were hurt by the cruelty and humiliation that believers face today. Many of Arthur's relatives and colleagues, who do not share his religious views, cannot understand what the authorities saw as extremist in his religion.

Case History

In February 2019, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against 18 men and 1 woman from Surgut (among them was a man mistaken for a Jehovah’s Witness). Their homes were searched. During the interrogations, 7 believers were subjected to violence. Artur Severinchik was sent to a pre-trial detention center for 29 days, and Yevgeny Fedin and Sergey Loginov - for 56. Timofey Zhukov was illegally placed in a psychiatric hospital for 14 days. Believers complained about the use of torture to the Investigative Committee, the ECHR and the Commissioner for Human Rights, a press conference was held with the participation of human rights defenders, but none of the security forces was ever brought to justice. In October 2021, the case materials were submitted to the court. The prosecutor requested imprisonment for the defendants for a term of 3 years and 3 months to 8.5 years in prison, and for Loginov - 9.5 years, which was the most severe request for punishment for believing in Jehovah God in modern Russia.
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