Ilya Buryi
Ilya Buryi, born 1992, Mari El. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Yoshkar-Ola”. Sentence (February 13, 2025): a fine of 600 thousand roubles. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Mari El · Yoshkar-Ola · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
a fine of 600 thousand roubles
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, he "continued the activities of the religious organisation.... by convening meetings of followers of the religious beliefs (doctrine) of Jehovah's Witnesses and directly participating in them".
Latest event
June 22, 2026 — added to the rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Yoshkar-Ola
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Yoshkar-Ola
Other defendants in the case
- Igor Alekseev — At large
- Ilya Kapitonov — At large
- Eduard Kapitonov — At large
- Alexei Kulikov — At large
- Sergey Kulikov — At large
- Sergey Naimushin — At large
- Denis Petrov — At large
- Evgenii Plotnikov — At large
- Vladimir Usenko — At large
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Yoshkar-Ola. A case was opened against him for organising activities of an extremist organisation on charges of involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Buryi was given a recognisance not to leave.
Representatives of the Jehovah's Witnesses community are prosecuted under extremist articles exclusively in connection with religious activities: holding meetings and worship services, attracting new supporters.
On 13 February 2025, Buryi was sentenced to a fine of 600,000 rubles.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- travel ban (written undertaking)
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.