The case of Merkulov in Apatity Denis Merkulov

 RUSSIA

The case of Merkulov in Apatity

Denis Merkulov

Updated: July 19, 2023

Name: Merkulov, Denis Aleksandrovich

Date of Birth: March 7, 1976

Current status: convicted person

Article of the Russian Criminal Code: 282.2(1)

Time spent in prison: 1 day in temporary holding facility, 56 days under house arrest

Sentence: punishment in the form of a fine in the amount of 400,000 rubles

Biography

In July 2021, during a mass raid against believers in the Murmansk region, the security forces broke into the apartment of Denis Merkulov and his wife Natalya, breaking open the iron front door and breaking the double-glazed window. Law enforcement officers confiscated bank cards and thereby deprived the family of their livelihood. A peaceful believer was accused of organizing extremist activities.

Denis was born in March 1976 in Kirovsk (Murmansk region). When he was 4 years old, the family moved to Apatity, where Denis lives to this day.

Denis grew up as an athletic child: he went in for running, swimming, skiing. Football has taken a special place in his life since the age of 7. Denis often performed at regional, regional and international tournaments, dreamed of getting into the national team.

After school, Denis graduated from a vocational school and received a diploma with an increased level for good studies. For the last 15 years, he worked in his specialty as a welder at the Apatitskaya CHPP. Later he received an additional specialty as an electrician for the repair and maintenance of electrical equipment.

“Since childhood, I have been worried about questions about the meaning of life, about the inevitability of death, about the causes of evil and suffering on earth,” recalls Denis. He found answers to them in the Bible. Since 1995, he has led a Christian lifestyle.

In 1998, Denis married Natalya. She shares his views on life and, like her husband, leads an active lifestyle. Spouses together walk a lot and ride bicycles, travel when there is such an opportunity. In her free time, Natalya also likes to knit, and Denis likes to play football, table tennis, chess, swim, and cross-country and downhill skiing.

Criminal prosecution has become a great stress for the Merkulovs. They have elderly widowed mothers in their 70s and 80s who need help. The reputation of the couple as honest and law-abiding citizens has been seriously affected.

Brief history of the case

A broken front door, a broken window and armed security forces — this is how the search took place in the apartment of Denis Merkulov and his wife in July 2021. The Investigative Committee accused a believer from Apatity of organizing the activities of an extremist organization for "performing songs ... and praying to Jehovah God" and "organized confession of faith." Merkulov was detained after interrogation. After a day in the temporary detention facility, he was placed under house arrest for two months, and then the preventive measure was changed to a ban on certain actions. In August 2022, the criminal case went to court. The accusation was based on the testimony of a man who invited Denis to talk about biblical teachings. In March 2023, the court sentenced the believer to a fine of 500,000 rubles. The prosecutor insisted on an appeal, which approved the guilty verdict, but reduced the fine to 400,000 rubles.

Criminal case

Region:

Murmansk Region

Locality:

Apatity

What is suspected:

“organized religious speeches and services through conference calls”, “the study of religious literature and bringing its texts to the participants in the meetings” (from the indictment).

Case number:

12102470003000051

Initiated:

July 19, 2021

Current stage of the case:

verdict took effect

Investigating:

SO for the city of Apatity of the Investigative Department of the RF Investigative Committee for the Murmansk Region

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2(1)

Case number in court:

1-1/2023 (1-190/2022)

Court:

Apatity City Court of the Murmansk Region

Judge:

Olga Karulina