The case of Dolganov in Tolyatti Dolganov Aleksandr Updated: April 4, 2024 Name: Dolganov Aleksandr Mikhailovich Date of Birth: November 19, 1988 Current status: Defendant Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2) Time spent in prison: 1 day in a temporary detention facility, 85 day Under house arrest Current restrictions: prohibition of certain actions Biography Due to criminal prosecution for his faith, Aleksandr Dolganov lost his job—the court forbade him to use the Internet. His wife was forced to take care of the maintenance of the family. Aleksandr was born in November 1988 in Toliyatti. He has a sister. Their parents are retired, but the father is still working. After school, Aleksandr studied at two technical schools as an electrician. Then he got a job in his specialty, and later as a locksmith. Since April 2023, he has worked as a call center operator. In 2017, Aleksandr moved to Samara, where he met his future wife Mariya. About a year later, the young family returned to Toglyatti. Mariya works as a support operator in a grocery delivery service. She has been familiar with the Bible since childhood—her mother instilled in her a love for God. Over time, she became convinced that the Bible's advice was good for her. Aleksandr, too, believed in God from a young age and loved to read Bible literature. "Although I didn't understand much at the time, I hoped that God would be pleased with my attitude towards him," he recalls. In 1998, his mother met Jehovah's Witnesses and began to study the Bible. When Aleksandr read Bible stories for children, he was so impressed that he wanted to attend religious meetings with his mother. Aleksandr's mother was the first to take the Christian path, then he himself and then his sister. To this day, as in childhood, Aleksandr is fond of chess and radio electronics. Mariya loves pets. She also enjoys playing board games. "House arrest has made its own adjustments to our lives. Due to the ban on leaving the apartment, using a mobile phone, the Internet, mail, I lost the opportunity to provide for my family, so it was a burden on my wife. Also, to control my movement, I was put on a tracking bracelet, which had a short radius of action and deprived me of the opportunity to use the entire apartment, "said Aleksandr. Relatives, neighbors and former colleagues are outraged that Aleksandr was unreasonably labeled an extremist and worry about the outcome of the trial: "Aleksandr is a peaceful, calm, cheerful person. Why is he being persecuted?" Case History In May 2023, in Tolyatti, officers of the Investigative Committee and the FSB broke into the homes of four families of believers with searches. A criminal case was opened against Aleksandr Dolganov for his faith. After interrogation, he was placed under house arrest for 85 days, and then he was banned from certain actions. In July 2023, the case went to court. The prosecution was based on the testimony of two witnesses who cooperated with the investigation. One of them, who secretly filmed the services, does not know the defendant personally, but has a negative attitude towards Jehovah’s Witnesses. Also at the trial, it turned out that the specialists who conducted the psychological and religious examination did not have the necessary qualifications and approached the work entrusted to them negligently. Criminal case Region: Samara Region Locality: Tolyatti Court case number: 12302360032000240 Case initiated: May 15, 2023 Current case stage: trial in Court of First Instance Investigating: Central Interdistrict Investigation Department for the City of Tolyatti of the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Samara Region Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2) Court case number: 1-72/2024 (1-978/2023) Court of First Instance: Avtozavodskoy District Court of Tolyatti. Judge of the Court of First Instance: Anna Tokareva

RUSSIA

The case of Dolganov in Tolyatti

Dolganov Aleksandr

Updated: April 4, 2024

Name: Dolganov Aleksandr Mikhailovich

Date of Birth: November 19, 1988

Current status: Defendant

Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2)

Time spent in prison: 1 day in a temporary detention facility, 85 day Under house arrest

Current restrictions: prohibition of certain actions

Biography

Due to criminal prosecution for his faith, Aleksandr Dolganov lost his job—the court forbade him to use the Internet. His wife was forced to take care of the maintenance of the family.

Aleksandr was born in November 1988 in Toliyatti. He has a sister. Their parents are retired, but the father is still working.

After school, Aleksandr studied at two technical schools as an electrician. Then he got a job in his specialty, and later as a locksmith. Since April 2023, he has worked as a call center operator.

In 2017, Aleksandr moved to Samara, where he met his future wife Mariya. About a year later, the young family returned to Toglyatti. Mariya works as a support operator in a grocery delivery service. She has been familiar with the Bible since childhood—her mother instilled in her a love for God. Over time, she became convinced that the Bible's advice was good for her.

Aleksandr, too, believed in God from a young age and loved to read Bible literature. "Although I didn't understand much at the time, I hoped that God would be pleased with my attitude towards him," he recalls. In 1998, his mother met Jehovah's Witnesses and began to study the Bible. When Aleksandr read Bible stories for children, he was so impressed that he wanted to attend religious meetings with his mother. Aleksandr's mother was the first to take the Christian path, then he himself and then his sister.

To this day, as in childhood, Aleksandr is fond of chess and radio electronics. Mariya loves pets. She also enjoys playing board games.

"House arrest has made its own adjustments to our lives. Due to the ban on leaving the apartment, using a mobile phone, the Internet, mail, I lost the opportunity to provide for my family, so it was a burden on my wife. Also, to control my movement, I was put on a tracking bracelet, which had a short radius of action and deprived me of the opportunity to use the entire apartment, "said Aleksandr.

Relatives, neighbors and former colleagues are outraged that Aleksandr was unreasonably labeled an extremist and worry about the outcome of the trial: "Aleksandr is a peaceful, calm, cheerful person. Why is he being persecuted?"

Case History

In May 2023, in Tolyatti, officers of the Investigative Committee and the FSB broke into the homes of four families of believers with searches. A criminal case was opened against Aleksandr Dolganov for his faith. After interrogation, he was placed under house arrest for 85 days, and then he was banned from certain actions. In July 2023, the case went to court. The prosecution was based on the testimony of two witnesses who cooperated with the investigation. One of them, who secretly filmed the services, does not know the defendant personally, but has a negative attitude towards Jehovah’s Witnesses. Also at the trial, it turned out that the specialists who conducted the psychological and religious examination did not have the necessary qualifications and approached the work entrusted to them negligently.

Criminal case

Region:

Samara Region

Locality:

Tolyatti

Court case number:

12302360032000240

Case initiated:

May 15, 2023

Current case stage:

trial in Court of First Instance

Investigating:

Central Interdistrict Investigation Department for the City of Tolyatti of the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Samara Region

Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:

282.2 (2)

Court case number:

1-72/2024 (1-978/2023)

Court of First Instance:

Avtozavodskoy District Court of Tolyatti.

 Judge of the Court of First Instance:

 Anna Tokareva