In Neftekumsk, Jehovah's Witnesses* lose their jobs because of criminal prosecution

Konstantin Samsonov, Alexander Akopov, and Shamil Sultanov, accused in a case against the Jehovah's Witnesses*, are at large. However, the defendants are not able to return to their workplaces and are experiencing difficulties with medical assistance because of the restrictions imposed on them by the court, advocate Denis Vladimirov reports.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Konstantin Samsonov, Alexander Akopov, and Shamil Sultanov spent almost a year under arrest in a SIZO (pre-trial prison) on the charge of extremism. On December 5, 2019, the court softened the pre-trial restriction measure and replaced the arrest with a ban on certain actions.

Today, the Neftekumsk District Court of the Stavropol Territory has started to consider the case, but the court hearing ended as soon as it began. At the request of the defence, the judge postponed it to March 9.

All three defendants continue to be at large, but they are not allowed to use phones and the Internet and leave the city without permission, advocate Denis Vladimirov reports. He believes that the protracted investigation and the imposed restrictions had a negative impact on the lives of the defendants.

"Konstantin Samsonov worked at a regional hospital as a leading programmer. However, at present, he is not able to fulfil his official duties because of the ban on using the Internet. Alexander Akopov and Shamil Sultanov also experience problems with their jobs," Denis Vladimirov notes.

Besides, the advocate has stated that the defendants face difficulties with medical treatment. "They need consultations of specialists in various diseases, but there are no such specialists in Neftekumsk. They need to go to Stavropol, but every trip requires the permission of the investigator. And every time we have a kind of 'battle' to get such permission," the advocate says.

* 396 Russian organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses were recognized as extremist, and their activities in Russia were banned by the court's decision

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 17, 2021 at 04:01 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.