A former priest, Iakov Vorontsov, has become the subject of a criminal case after 2.44 grammes of a psychotropic substance were found in his home. A court in Almaty found him guilty and sentenced him to four years' deprivation of liberty, taking an amnesty into account.
WHAT IS KNOWN
On 7 October, District Court No. 2 of the Medeu district of the city of Almaty found Vorontsov guilty under part 4 of article 296 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Unlawful acquisition and storage, without intent to distribute, of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues on an especially large scale"). The court sentenced him to 6 years' deprivation of liberty.
After the application of the Law "On Amnesty in Connection with the Adoption of the New Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan", the term was reduced by one third. The final punishment amounted to 4 years' deprivation of liberty.
The court also imposed on Vorontsov a fine of 86,500 tenge and recovered 39,500 tenge in court costs.
WHAT WAS FOUND DURING THE SEARCH
During an authorised search of the house where Vorontsov lived, 2.44 grammes of an analogue of metcathinone (3-CMC) were found. According to the case file, this quantity constitutes an especially large amount.
In February 2026, a medical examination also recorded that Vorontsov had used cannabinoids. He had previously been held administratively liable for this and received 10 days' arrest.
The former priest himself does not admit guilt and claims that the criminal case has been fabricated.
The defence insists that the prosecution has not proved who owned the substance found or how it came to be in the house.
WHY THE CHARGE OF ORGANISING A DRUG DEN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE CASE
Initially, Vorontsov was also charged with organising a drug den. Before the case was heard on its merits, this episode was excluded, and the charge considered in court related to the storage of a prohibited substance.
The criminal case against Vorontsov was opened in the autumn of 2025. The trial was held in closed session and lasted less than a month.
WHAT THE DEFENCE STATED IN COURT
Vorontsov and his defence denied guilt at every stage of the proceedings. The lawyer pointed to the absence of evidence which, in his view, would confirm the origin of the substance found and its connection with the accused.
Secret witnesses also featured in the case file. The court excluded the testimony of one of them, since it was unable to establish that this person existed. The identity of the second witness was not disclosed to the participants in the proceedings.
The defence intends to appeal against the verdict.
WHY VORONTSOV LINKS THE CASE TO HIS ACTIVITIES
Before being defrocked, Vorontsov was a clergyman of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). He spoke out against the position of the ROC leadership on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and in 2022 signed an appeal by clergymen.
Later, Vorontsov tried to create in Kazakhstan an Orthodox community independent of the Moscow Patriarchate, but was refused registration. In 2023, the ROC deprived him of his rank — the status of clergyman.
Vorontsov himself links the criminal prosecution to his public and religious activities and considers the case to be politically motivated.
