OMSK POLICE HARSHLY BEAT SERGEI POLIAKOV
Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, 13 July 2018
It has been learned that Sergei Poliakov, who along with his wife was incommunicado for several days, was beaten during his arrest in his home in Omsk. The physical injuries were delivered by two Omsk law enforcement officers in masks.
On 4 July 2018, at 7:20 a.m., Sergei and Anastasia Poliakov were awakened by a knock on the door and they immediately realized that it was being broken down. To the question "Who's there?" they heard the reply: "Police." Sergei tried to make a phone call, but in that time people in masks broke into the apartment and, without making any demands or explaining anything, they delivered several blows to Sergei about the head. During this, his nose and lip were smashed, as the result of which he began bleeding heavily. Then Sergei was thrown to the floor and one of the special agents beat him with his knee in the face. After some time, he was picked up and forced to wipe up the blood on the floor in the hall.
During the invasion, the entry door into the Poliakovs' apartment was nearly broken off the hinges and a door to the stairwell was broken out. The search in the Poliakovs' apartment and auto lasted about five hours. When the couple asked law enforcers to identify themselves, they were insulted or mocked in reply. A personal search of the couple also was conducted. Anastasia was searched by a female observer (!). The investigator, Denis Loginovsky, ignored requests to explain their rights and to get the aid of an attorney. A search simply was conducted, during which personal property was seized from the couple. When Anastasia tried to insert into the report that she did not consent, the investigator tore the piece of paper from her hands. Later the couple was taken in separate cars to the settlement of Azovo (Omsk oblast), where identification and other investigative actions were conducted. During transportation in the car, law enforcement personnel forced Anastasia to give evidence, calling her an "American agent" and a "sectarian."
Medical examination of Sergei regarding his receiving physical wounds was conducted only after more than two days following the beating, in one of the medical institutions in Azovo. Since Sergei still had a swollen nose, an x-ray examination was made.
Anastasia and Sergei were taken to Azovo district court, for a hearing to select measures to assure appearance and they were held in a cage in the courtroom. The chairwoman of the court, Nina Iordan, sent both of them to two months in Investigative Detention Cell No. 1 of the UFSIN of Russia for Omsk oblast. The couple wound up in jail because they are suspected of professing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. They are both charged under part 2 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the RF (participation in the activity of a public or religious association or other organization, regarding which a court has made a decision that has taken legal effect regarding its liquidation or prohibition of its activity because of the conduct of extremist activity). They are being held as defendants.
Sergei and Anastasia Poliakov were married in 2003. They have many friends, whom they love very much, and they are very upset about what is happening. (tr. by PDS, posted 14 July 2018)
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