Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

Searches of the Homes of Jehovah's Witnesses Conducted in Seversk — Second Time in the Past Three Weeks

Tomsk Region

Early in the morning on July 7, 2026, law enforcement officers conducted searches at the homes of at least 7 families of believers. The raid affected, among others, Andrey Ledyaykin and Andrey Kolesnichenko, who previously served suspended sentences for their faith.

The believers were taken for questioning and then released. The Kolesnichenko family had Bibles, electronic devices, and cards with Bible quotations seized. The operation was overseen by Investigator Varvara Yagovkina of the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee for the closed administrative-territorial formation (ZATO) of Seversk, Tomsk Region.

During the previous raid — in June 2026 — searches in Seversk were conducted at the homes of 11 believers, two of whom were also former prisoners of conscience.

Repeated persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses who have already served sentences for practicing their religion has become a trend. For example, this has happened to Aleksandr Bondarchuk from Kemerovo, Dmitriy Terebilov, a resident of Kostroma, Aleksandr Serebryakov from Moscow, and Oleg Postnikov from Birobidzhan.

Case of Ledyaykin in Seversk

Case History
In July 2020, FSB and Investigative Committee officers, accompanied by two riot policemen, arrived at Andrey Ledyaikin’s place of work, the administration of Seversk, to pick up the believer for a search of his home. After in March 2021, the Investigation Department for ZATO Seversk opened a criminal case against Ledyaykin, he was forced to resign. Three days later, the court chose a measure of restraint for him in the form of a written undertaking not to leave and proper behavior. In June 2021, Ledyaykin’s case was submitted to the Seversky City Court of the Tomsk Region. It was considered by judge Ekaterina Soldatenko. The accusation is based on the testimony of FSB agent Kira Klisheva, who testified against 5 other Jehovah’s Witnesses in Seversk. The prosecutor requested 4.5 years in a general regime colony for the believer. In April 2022, the court sentenced Andrey Ledyaykin to 2 years and 2 months in a penal colony, and on July 14, the Tomsk Regional Court replaced this term with a suspended sentence.
Timeline

Persons in case

Ledyaykin
Andrey

Criminal case

Region:
Tomsk Region
Locality:
Seversk
Suspected of:
"participated in religious meetings, which included, among other things, the sequential singing of songs from a special collection of religious teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses and prayers to Jehovah God" (from the indictment)
Court case number:
12102690003000021
Initiated:
March 25, 2021
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department for the Closed Administrative Territory of the City of Seversk of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Tomsk Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-11/2022 (1-257/2021)
Court:
Seversk City Court of the Tomsk Region
Judge:
Yekatarina Soldatenko
Case History

Case of Kolesnichenko in Seversk

Case History
Andriy Kolesnichenko was accused of “participating in a closed secret meeting in the form of a collective religious service.” This is how the investigating authorities called the peaceful meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Seversk. In July 2020, FSB officers detained the believer right at his workplace, after which his house was searched. In March 2021, the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee for the Tomsk Region opened a criminal case against Kolesnichenko for participating in the activities of an extremist organization. After 3 months, it was submitted to the Seversky City Court. The accusation was based on the testimony of an informant who pretended to be interested in the Bible, recorded the services on video and handed them over to the FSB. The prosecutor requested that the believer be sentenced to 5 years in prison. In January 2022, Judge Yalchin Badalov sentenced Andrey to 4 years in a general regime colony and 1 year of additional restriction of freedom. He was taken into custody in the courtroom. In June 2022, the appellate court commuted the sentence, replacing it with 4 years of suspended sentence.
Timeline

Persons in case

Kolesnichenko
Andrey

Criminal case

Region:
Tomsk Region
Locality:
Seversk
Suspected of:
"participation in a closed secret meeting in the form of a collective religious service, consisting of the reproduction of audio and video recordings ... singing songs from a special collection of religious teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses and prayers to Jehovah God"
Court case number:
12102690003000020
Initiated:
March 25, 2021
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department for the Closed Administrative Territory of the City of Seversk of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Tomsk Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-10/2022 (1-256/2021)
Court:
Seversk City Court of the Tomsk Region
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Yalchin Badalov
Case History

Case of Ershov in Seversk

Case History
Since March 2020, Kira Klisheva, who portrayed an interest in the Bible, recorded the worship services of Jehovah’s Witnesses from her computer and handed them over to the FSB. Soon, employees of the Investigative Committee raided the house of Alexei Ershov, a former deputy of the city Council of People’s Deputies. In March 2021, the case against the pensioner was separated into a separate proceeding from the case of Yevgeny Korotun. Ershov was accused of participating in worship services, saying prayers and singing religious songs. In July 2021, the case was submitted to the Seversky City Court of the Tomsk Region, it was considered by Judge Yalchin Badalov. The prosecutor suggested that the court consider Yershov as an organizer, not a member of an extremist community, and sentence him to 5 years in prison. In January 2022, the court sentenced Yershov to 3 years in a penal colony. He was taken into custody in the courtroom. In April 2022, the court of appeal replaced the sentence with 3 years of probation.
Timeline

Persons in case

Yershov
Aleksey

Criminal case

Region:
Tomsk Region
Locality:
Seversk
Suspected of:
"took part in a closed conspiratorial meeting in the form of collective religious worship ... consisting of the playback of audio recordings and video recordings... the sequential singing of songs from a special collection of religious teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses and prayers to the God of Jehovah... explained to the other participants the religious materials demonstrated, and also said a prayer to Jehovah God, calling on the others to pray with him" (from the indictment)
Court case number:
12102690003000019
Initiated:
March 25, 2021
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department for the Closed Administrative Territory of the City of Seversk of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Tomsk Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-8/2022 (1-253/2021)
Case History

Belousov's case in Seversk

Case History
For several months, intelligence agent Kira Klisheva, who portrayed an interest in the Bible, kept covert video recordings of Jehovah’s Witnesses worship services in Seversk. She transmitted the data to the FSB. In July 2020, employees of the Investigative Committee invaded with a search of a peaceful family man Sergey Belousov. In March 2021, the Investigation Department for the Closed Administrative Territory of Seversk opened a criminal case against the believer, separating him from the case of Yevgeny Korotun. Belousov was accused of extremism, which, according to the investigation, was expressed in participation in worship services, the performance of religious songs and prayers. In July 2021, the case was submitted to the Seversky City Court of the Tomsk Region. It was considered by judge Ekaterina Soldatenko. On April 14, 2022, Belousov was sentenced to 3 years of probation with restriction of liberty for 1 year. In June 2022, the appellate court upheld this decision.
Timeline

Persons in case

Belousov
Sergey

Criminal case

Region:
Tomsk Region
Locality:
Seversk
Suspected of:
With the help of the "Zoom software" and the "Signal" mobile application, he took part in... religious worship", as well as in "singing songs" and "prayers to Jehovah God" (from the indictment).
Court case number:
12102690003000022
Initiated:
March 25, 2021
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department for the Closed Administrative Territory of the City of Seversk of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Tomsk Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-9/2022 (1-255/2021)
Court of First Instance:
Seversk City Court of the Tomsk Region
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Yekatarina Soldatenko
Case History
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