Semyon Baibak
Semyon Baibak, born 1997, Rostov Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.3 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code (Financing extremist activities); “The Semyon Baibak case”. Sentence (December 21, 2020): Three years six months' deprivation of liberty suspended with a probation period of four years six months. 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 · Teachers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
3 years 6 months
Three years six months' deprivation of liberty suspended with a probation period of four years six months
Upheld January 11, 2022
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.3 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code — Financing extremist activities
Full wording of the charges
participated in religious meetings, including worship services; made donations; engaged in propaganda among persons who are not followers of the religious teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses; collected donations to rent premises for meetings of co-religionists
Latest event
November 19, 2025 — persecution 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
· Persecution ends
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 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: house arrest
· Persecution begins
The Semyon Baibak case
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Temporary detention centre (IVS UMVD) for Rostov-on-Don
Criminal case
The Semyon Baibak case
Thematic group: The third case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Rostov-on-Don
Details and sources
Full summary
On 10 June 2019, he was detained after a search and sent under house arrest on the next day because of the case on the activities of an extremist organisation. In November 2019, Baibak was also prosecuted in the case of financing extremist activities. On 22 December 2020, he was sentenced to three and a half years suspended sentence.
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.