Vilen Avanesov
Vilen Avanesov, born 1952, Rostov Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Rostov-on-Don”. Sentence (July 28, 2021): six years' prison sentence in a general regime 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 · Pensioners · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years
six years' prison sentence in a general regime colony
Upheld June 22, 2022
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
Participated in organising the activities of an extremist organisation
Latest event
February 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
· Persecution ends
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years
· 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
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· 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 Jehovah's Witnesses in Rostov-on-Don
· 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 Jehovah's Witnesses in Rostov-on-Don
Other defendants in the case
- Alexander Parkov — At large, 6 years 6 months
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Rostov-on-Don
Details and sources
Full summary
On 22 May 2019, detained after a search, 26 May taken into custody by court order on charges of organising activities of an extremist organisation. On 29 July 2021, sentenced to six years in a general regime colony. Released on 9 February 2024.
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.