Elena Barmakina
Elena Barmakina, born 1967, 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”. Sentenced on February 3, 2025. Status: at large. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, December 11, 2020; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, April 5, 2020.
In brief
Primorsky Krai · Vladivostok · Artists · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
3 years
Suspended prison sentence
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 — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, December 11, 2020
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, April 5, 2020
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 years
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Persecution begins
The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vladivostok
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· 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
- Nina Astvatsaturova — 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
Resident of Vladivostok. Rosfinmonitoring (Federal Financial Monitoring Service) seized her bank cards on 12 September 2019, and the next day she was charged with participation in the activities of an extremist organisation due to her involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, recruiting new supporters.
The court returned Barmakina's case back to the prosecutor's office on 29 September 2020.
In August 2021, the case was merged with the cases of several other believers. In June 2022, the case went to trial. The sentence was handed down on 3 February 2025, details are unknown.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- travel ban (written undertaking)
Sources (3)
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.