Vasily Bondarev
Vasily Bondarev, born 1996, Khabarovsk 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 Komsomolsk-on-Amur”. Sentence (September 30, 2025): 2 years of suspended imprisonment. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Khabarovsk Krai · Komsomolsk-on-Amur · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
2 years
of suspended imprisonment
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Latest event
October 17, 2025 — imprisonment begins
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Imprisonment begins
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
The second case of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Criminal case
The second case of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Komsomolsk-on-Amur
- Case number
- 1-44/2025
Other defendants in the case
- Irina Bondareva — At large, 2 years
- Marina Voitko — At large, 2 years
- Mikhail Dorofeev — At large, 6 years
- Svetlana Zharkova — At large, 2 years
- Nikolay Kovadnev — At large, 6 years
- Ivan Nikitin — At large, 2 years
- Sergei Sachnev — At large, 2 years
- Ulita Sachneva — At large, 2 years
- Radion Shitov — At large, 6 years
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Komsomolsk-on-Amur. On 25 May 2023, he was searched at his home as part of a case of involvement in the activities of an extremist organisation due to his involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. The law enforcers told him to lie down on the floor, after which his mother Irina, who is on the same case with him, became ill. The law enforcers allowed Bondarev to sit on the sofa.
On 1 October 2025, the court sentenced Bondarev to two years' suspended sentence.
Jehovah's Witnesses are prosecuted under extremist articles solely on the basis of their religious activities: holding meetings and worship services, engaging new supporters.
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.