Sergey Ashikhmin
Sergey Ashikhmin, born 1973, Udmurtia. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Izhevsk”. Sentence (May 13, 2024): 3 years in prison. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since May 13, 2024; place of detention: Penal colony No. 1, Chuvashia. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, April 15, 2021.
In brief
Udmurtia · Izhevsk · Entrepreneurs · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
3 years
in prison
Upheld October 1, 2024
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
Participated in coordination of the activities of an extremist organisation
Latest event
October 29, 2024 — added to the rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, April 15, 2021
Timeline
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Udmurt Republic
· Preventive measure: ban on certain activities
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Izhevsk
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Izhevsk
Other defendants in the case
- Maxim Derendyaev — Imprisoned, 3 years
- Alexander Kutin — Imprisoned, 3 years
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 1, Chuvashia
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
428903, Чувашия, г. Чебоксары, Лапсарский проезд д. 17, ФКУ «ИК № 1 УФСИН России по Чувашии», Ашихмин Сергей Александрович, 1973 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
On 14 April 2021, Ashikhmin's home was searched. He was charged with organising activities of an extremist organisation in connection with his involvement with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Members of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, attracting new supporters. On 16 April, a preventive measure in the form of a ban on certain actions was chosen. On 13 May 2024, Ashikhmin was sentenced to three years in prison.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.