The Case of Ovchar in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy

Investigator of the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Kamchatka Territory D. M. Petukhov initiates a criminal case against Aleksey Ovchar and the married couple Chechulin. According to the investigator, the unlawful actions were expressed in "convening meetings, organizing collective religious speeches and services, in accordance with the ideology of the religious association of Jehovah's Witnesses at these meetings."

Alexey Ovchar is included in the Rosfinmonitoring list.

The criminal case against Aleksey Ovchar is separated from the case of Sergey and Yelena Chechulin.

The preliminary investigation of the criminal case of Oleksiy Ovchar has been suspended.

Investigator V. V. Mikhailov resumes the investigation against Aleksey Ovchar. He is being questioned as a suspect and his wife as a witness in the case. The investigator takes a recognizance agreement from the believer.

Investigator Mikhailov charges Aleksey Ovchar and interrogates him again.

Alexey Ovchar's case is submitted to the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky City Court for consideration by Judge Alexander Kotkov.

Assistant Prosecutor Yelena Smolyachenko, announcing the indictment, accuses Aleksey Ovchar of participating in 12 worship meetings. The defense states that Aleksey was present at only one of the twelve meetings, and there is no evidence of his illegal actions even at this meeting.

Aleksey Ovchar testifies in court. "The indictment says that I was allegedly motivated by religious hatred ... But according to the results of investigative actions and examinations, nothing specific was found in my words and actions that could incite religious discord," the believer argues.

The believer asks the court to attach to the case file excerpts from documents of Russian and international organizations, which refute the arguments of the prosecution in the criminal nature of his actions. The court refuses, but allows the believer to read out the petition itself and use these materials in the debate.

Referee: Aleksandr Kotkov. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky City Court of the Kamchatka Territory (6 Kurchatov Street, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky). Time: 10:00.

"I have not done anything harmful or dangerous either against the state or against people. If I had not been one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I would not be on trial now." Aleksey Ovchar makes his last speech in court.

Kamchatka Regional Court (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 52 Leninskaya Street). Start: 14:00.