Sergey Afanasiev
Sergey Afanasiev, born 1964, Amur Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.3 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code (Financing extremist activities); “The case of Sergei Afanasiev, Sergei Ermilov, Sergei Kardakov, Anton Olshevsky and Adam Swarichevsky”. Sentence (December 21, 2022): 6 years 6 months' impisonment in a general regime colony with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since December 21, 2022; place of detention: Penal colony No. 14, Khabarovsk Krai. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, December 11, 2020; Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, December 11, 2020.
In brief
Amur Oblast · Blagoveshchensk · Construction workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years 6 months
impisonment in a general regime colony with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to the management of and participation in the work of voluntary organisations for a period of 4 years 6 months and 1 year of restriction of liberty
Upheld September 26, 2023
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.3 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code — Financing extremist activities
Full wording of the charges
He participated in organising the activities of a liquidated organisation by holding religious events, as well as in financing extremist activities
Latest event
September 26, 2023 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, December 11, 2020
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, December 11, 2020
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years 6 months
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Amur Oblast
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Persecution begins
The case of Sergei Afanasiev, Sergei Ermilov, Sergei Kardakov, Anton Olshevsky and Adam Swarichevsky
Criminal case
The case of Sergei Afanasiev, Sergei Ermilov, Sergei Kardakov, Anton Olshevsky and Adam Swarichevsky
Other defendants in the case
- Sergei Ermilov — Imprisoned, 6 years 3 months
- Sergei Kardakov — Imprisoned, 6 years 4 months
- Anton Olshevsky — Imprisoned, 6 years 3 months
- Adam Svarichevsky — Imprisoned, 6 years 3 months
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Blagoveshchensk
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 14, Khabarovsk Krai
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
682640,Хабаровский край, г. Амурск, шоссе Машиностроителей д.10, ФКУ «ИК № 14 УФСИН России по Хабаровскому краю», Афанасьев Сергей Пантелеймонович, 1964 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
On 20 July 2018, Afanasyev's home was searched. On 25 September 2020, it became known that Afanasyev was charged with participation in the activities of an extremist organisation in connection with his involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, attracting new supporters. They signed a recognisance not to leave the country. The charge was later reclassified to organising and financing activities. On 21 December 2022, he was sentenced to six and a half years in a general regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.