Nina Astvatsaturova
Nina Astvatsaturova, born 1959, Primorsky Krai. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vladivostok”. Sentence (February 3, 2025): 3 years' suspended sentence with a probation period of 3 years. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Primorsky Krai · Vladivostok · Engineers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
3 years
suspended sentence with a probation period of 3 years
Upheld July 28, 2025
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
participated in the activities of an extremist organisation
Latest event
July 28, 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 · 3 years
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Persecution begins
The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vladivostok
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
Criminal case
The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vladivostok
- Case number
- 1-79/2023 (1-532/2022;)
Other defendants in the case
- Elena Barmakina — At large, 3 years
- Roman Verigin — Location unknown
- Violetta Verigina — Location unknown
- Alibek Kartaiganov — Location unknown
- Ludwiga Katanayeva — At large, 3 years 4 months
- Igor Lonchakov — Imprisoned, 7 years
- Yuri Redozubov — Imprisoned, 6 years 6 months
- Ekaterina Treguba — At large, 3 years 4 months
- Elena Zorn — At large, 3 years
Thematic group: The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vladivostok
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Vladivostok. On 2 July 2020, she was added to Federal Financial Monitoring Service list of extremists and terrorists. At that time Astvatsaturova did not know that she was being prosecuted. A week later, she was searched into the case of participation in the activities of an extremist organisation in relation to her involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely because of their religious activities - holding meetings and divine services, attracting new supporters. On 3 February 2025, Astvatsaturova was sentenced to a three-year suspended sentence.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- travel ban (written undertaking)
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.