Oksana Chausova
Oksana Chausova, born 1986, Kursk Oblast. 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 Kursk”. Sentence (May 26, 2025): 1 year and 10 months' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Kursk Oblast · Kursk · Service workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
1 year 10 months
1 year and 10 months' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony
First instance, December 2, 2024: 2 years 6 months
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, she participated in meetings of the banned community of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Latest event
August 29, 2025 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 1 year 10 months
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years 6 months
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Kursk Oblast
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: ban on certain activities
· Persecution begins
The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Kursk
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Kursk
Other defendants in the case
- Nikolay Kupriyansky — Imprisoned, 4 years 6 months
- Dmitrii Chausov — Location unknown, 1 year 10 months
Thematic group: The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Kursk
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Kursk. A criminal case was opened against her and two other people in connection with their involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Chausova was accused of participating in the activities of an extremist organisation. On 8 August 2023, she was detained after a search, and on 10 August the court sent her under house arrest. On 28 February 2024, the preventive measure was replaced by a ban on certain actions.
On 2 December 2024, Chausova was sentenced to two and a half years in a general regime colony. On 26 May 2025, on appeal, the court reduced the sentence by two months.
Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely because of their religious activities - holding meetings and worship services and attracting new supporters.
On 29 August 2025, Chausova was released.
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.