The case of Kupriyanskiy and others in Kursk Kupriyanskiy Nikolay

 RUSSIA

The case of Kupriyanskiy and others in Kursk

Kupriyanskiy Nikolay

Updated: September 2, 2024

Name: Kupriyanskiy Nikolay Viktorovich

Date of Birth: November 16, 1967

Current status: defendant

Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)

Time spent in prison: 2 day in a temporary detention facility, 389 day Under house arrest

Current restrictions: house arrest

Biography

In July 2023, peaceful believer Nikolay Kupriyanskiy became a defendant in a criminal case for his belief in Jehovah God. His house was searched, the man was placed in a temporary detention facility, and later under house arrest.

Nikolay was born in November 1967 in Kursk. His father is retired and worked as a locksmith all his life. His mother and younger brother have passed away.

As a child, Nikolay loved sports—he was engaged in wrestling, shooting, skiing. After school, he graduated from the Oryol Commercial Institute, was engaged in entrepreneurial activities.

In 1985, Nikolay met Tatyana in the theater studio. A year later, they got married. The couple have an adult son and daughter who live separately. Tatyana is a teacher. She likes needlework, sewing, baking bread, making cheese, and cultivating a garden, especially growing strawberries. Nikolay has been fond of playing the guitar since his youth.

In 1997, the Kupriyanskiys got acquainted with the Bible, and after two years of studying this book, Nikolay and Tatyana decided to become Jehovah's Witnesses.

The criminal prosecution had a negative impact on the health of the spouses. Since Nikolay was placed under house arrest, Tatyana has to care for the family on her own.

Case History

In August 2023, the homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses were searched in Kursk. An FSB investigator opened a criminal case against Nikolay Kupriyanskiy and spouses Dmitriy Chausov and Oksana Chausova. All three were detained. They were accused of organizing the activities of an extremist community and participating in it. Dmitriy was sent to a pre-trial detention center, and later, like Nikolay and Oksana, under house arrest. The Chausovs were separated due to a ban on communication. In June 2024, the case went to court.

Criminal case

Region:

Kursk Region

Locality:

Курск

Suspected of:

"Acting in conditions of strict secrecy in order to avoid exposure and suppression of his criminal activities by law enforcement agencies and state security agencies, continues to convene collective meetings of members of this organization and other followers of the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses in the territory of Kursk and the Kursk region" (from the decision to initiate criminal proceedings)

Court case number:

12307380001000014

Case initiated:

July 3, 2023

Current case stage:

Trial in court of first instance

Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:

282.2 (2), 282.2 (1)

Court case number:

1-640/2024

Court of First Instance:

Kursk Regional Court

Judge of the Court of First Instance:

Dyadyusheva Margarita Yuryevna