Arsen Avanesov
Arsen Avanesov, born 1983, Rostov 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 Arsen Avanesov”. Sentence (August 7, 2022): 7 years in a general regime penal colony. Status: at large. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, January 8, 2020; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, September 22, 2019.
In brief
Rostov Oblast · Rostov-on-Don · Construction workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
7 years
in a general regime penal colony
First instance, July 28, 2021: 6 years 6 months
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
Participated in organizing and financing the activities of an extremist organization
Latest event
October 9, 2024 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, January 8, 2020
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, September 22, 2019
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 7 years
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years 6 months
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Rostov Region
· Persecution begins
The case of Arsen Avanesov
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
TDF of the Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Rostov-on-Don.
Criminal case
The case of Arsen Avanesov
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Rostov-on-Don
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Rostov-on-Don. On May 22, 2019, was detained after a search, and on May 26 taken into custody on the charges of organizing and financing the activities of an extremist organization due to his involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Members of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, and proselytizing. On July 29, 2021 Avanesov was sentenced to six and a half years in a general regime penal colony with the court dropping the financing charges. On June 23, 2022, the court of cassation decided to return the case to the court of appeal, satisfying the prosecutor's submission, who considered the decision to drop the financing charge to be erroneous. On August 8, the court of appeals increased his sentence to seven years. On October 9, 2024, Avanesov was released from prison.
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.