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On 28 July, the Gryazinsky City Court (Lipetsk Region, in western Russia) fined eight Jehovah’s Witnesses a total of 2,750,000 roubles (approx. US$31,000). This was reported by the “Jehovah’s Witnesses” portal.

According to law enforcement, the believers “held secret meetings” online and also trained new supporters of an ideology “based on religious intolerance towards members of other denominations.” They were also found guilty of raising funds “for the development and material-technical support of the organisation.” Those involved in the case deny any wrongdoing.

The case became public in November 2020. At that time, police conducted searches at nine addresses belonging to believers in Gryazi, a town in the Lipetsk Region, as reported. Sergei Kretov and Evgeny Reshetnikov were charged under the article for organising an extremist organisation (Part 1, Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code), while Tatyana Morlang, Svetlana Vyrezkova, and Natalya Perekatiy were accused of participating in such an organisation (Part 2, Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code). Immediately after the searches, the women were released on an undertaking not to leave town. The men were placed in pre-trial detention, but in July 2021 their custody was changed to house arrest, and in November of the same year—to an undertaking not to leave town.

In June 2021, law enforcement also detained Aleksandr Popras and Valery Khmil. They were charged under the article on organising extremist activity. Popras was released without any preventive measure, while Khmil was placed under house arrest.

Finally, in January 2022, it was revealed that another person had been charged in the case: Aleksandr Podolin. He faces charges of financing an extremist organisation (Part 1, Article 282.3 of the Criminal Code).

The fines imposed on the believers were:

  • Aleksandr Popras—550,000 roubles (approx. US$6,200);
  • Aleksandr Podolin—450,000 roubles (approx. US$5,100);
  • Valery Khmil—400,000 roubles (approx. US$4,500);
  • Sergei Kretov and Evgeny Reshetnikov—300,000 roubles each (approx. US$3,400);
  • Tatyana Morlang, Svetlana Vyrezkova, and Natalya Perekatiy—250,000 roubles each (approx. US$2,800).

The prosecutor had requested fines totalling 4,720,000 roubles (approx. US$52,700) for the eight Jehovah’s Witnesses. In October 2023, it emerged that the investigation had ended. The trial lasted more than a year and a half.