Anatoly Artamonov
Anatoly Artamonov, born 1952, Jewish Autonomous Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code (Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The fourth case of Jenovah's Witnesses in Bitobidzhan”. Sentence (July 29, 2025): 5 years' suspended prison with 1 year 6 months' restriction of liberty. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Jewish Autonomous Oblast · Birobidzhan · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
5 years
suspended prison with 1 year 6 months' restriction of liberty
Upheld October 2, 2025
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code — Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, "being in various places in the city of Birobidzhan.... directly participated in general religious events (conversations via online conferences), the purpose of which is to study literature that forms the basis of the beliefs of the Jehovah's Witnesses organisation".
Latest event
October 2, 2025 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 5 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Persecution begins
The fourth case of Jenovah's Witnesses in Bitobidzhan
Criminal case
The fourth case of Jenovah's Witnesses in Bitobidzhan
Other defendants in the case
- Aleksandr Krushevskii — At large, 5 years
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of the village of Amurzet (Jewish Autonomous Region). In February 2024, his house was searched as part of a case of involvement in the activities of an extremist organisation due to his involvement in the activities of the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely on the basis of their religious activities - holding meetings and worship services and attracting new supporters.
On 29 July 2025, the court sentenced him to five years' suspended imprisonment.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- travel ban (written undertaking)
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.