The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case for unlawful deprivation of liberty in a church near Ivanovo; parishioners were intimidated by deadly diseases

The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case in the parish of St. Nicholas Church in the village of Chikhachevo near Ivanovo. This is reported on the department's website.

According to investigators, from July 2018 to October 12, 2020, “unidentified persons” convinced parishioners that they were terminally ill and could die if they left Chikhachevo. The victims were prohibited from moving freely and contacting relatives.

Investigators searched the house of the former rector of the parish and found there documents on the alienation of real estate in his favor, two traumatic pistols and 2 million rubles.

In September, an independent publication about the Russian Orthodox Church “Achilla” published an anonymous story from the daughter of one of the parishioners, who settled in the parish of St. Nicholas Church, falling under the influence of Schema-Archimandrite Ivan Efimenko (Elder Ioannikiy).

“This so-called elder convinced her that she was terminally ill and said that if she left there, she would certainly die. This is despite the fact that she does not have and never had any diagnosis. She went there as a basically healthy woman. But he intimidated her so much that she stayed there, working in the pigsty,” she said.

On October 23, Efimenko was relieved of his post as rector of the parish and banned from serving until the case was considered in the diocesan court.