October 20, 2026, 1:41 PMRSSRU

Ivan Tchaikovsky

ImprisonedChecked October 18, 2026

Ivan Tchaikovsky, born 1955, Moscow. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “Fourth case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Moscow”. Sentence (March 31, 2023): 6 years 3 months' deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony, prohibition to engage in activities related to the… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since November 24, 2020; place of detention: Penal colony No. 1, Yaroslavl Oblast. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, January 27, 2021.

In brief

Moscow · Moscow · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses

Sentence

6 years 3 months

deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony, prohibition to engage in activities related to the management and participation in the work of voluntary organisations for a period of 3 years, and 1 year's restriction of liberty

Verdict March 31, 2023

Upheld November 22, 2024

Charges

Full wording of the charges

According to the investigation, involved in organising the activities of an extremist organisation

Latest event

November 22, 2024 — cassation

The court upheld the verdict.

Checked October 18, 2026 · no changes since October 15

Recognition by rights defenders

Timeline

  1. · Cassation ruling

    upheld

  2. · Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”

  3. · First-instance verdict

    guilty verdict · 6 years 3 months

  4. · Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion

    Memorial Human Rights Centre

  5. · Preventive measure: house arrest

  6. · Persecution begins

    Fourth case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Moscow

Criminal case

Fourth case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Moscow

Other defendants in the case

Write a letter

Facility: Penal colony No. 1, Yaroslavl Oblast

Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)

150036, Ярославская область, г. Ярославль, ул. Хлебная д.12, ФКУ «ИК № 1 УФСИН России по Ярославской области», Чайковский Иван Степанович, 1955 г.р.

Address checked October 18, 2026

Details and sources

Full summary

According to OVD-Info

24 November 2020 detained after a search. On 27 November, the court sent him under house arrest on charges of participation in the activities of an extremist organisation in connection with his involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, attracting new supporters On 31 March 2023, Tchaikovsky was sentenced to six years and three months in a general regime colony.

All fields of the record
Citizenship
Russia
Sources (1)

Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code

Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.

All 648 under this article →