Sergei Chechulin
Sergei Chechulin, born 1968, Kamchatka Krai. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “Sergei and Elena Chechulin's case”. Sentence (April 8, 2025): 6 years' suspended imprisonment with 3 years' probation, 6 months' imprisonment, prohibition to engage in activities… Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Kamchatka Krai · Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years
suspended imprisonment with 3 years' probation, 6 months' imprisonment, prohibition to engage in activities related to the leadership and participation in the work of religious associations for 3 years
First instance, April 22, 2024: 2 years
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 was engaged in convening meetings, organising collective religious performances and worship services, in accordance with the ideology of the Jehovah's Witnesses religious association at their meetings, and conducted regular trainings with other persons on the postulates of the Jehovah's Witnesses religious association.
Latest event
April 8, 2025 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· Imprisonment begins
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Sergei and Elena Chechulin's case
Criminal case
Sergei and Elena Chechulin's case
Other defendants in the case
- Elena Chechulina — At large, 6 years
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (a city and the administrative center of Kamchatka Krai in the Far East of Russia). On 17th October 2022 detained at work. He accused for organising the activities of an extremist organisation due to involvement in the activities of the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely because of their religious activities - holding meetings and worship services and attracting new supporters. Chechulin was given a covenant not to leave the country. On 23rd April 2024, he was sentenced to a two-year suspended sentence. On 30th October 2024, the cassation court cancelled the sentence and returned the case to the first instance court. On 19th February 2025, Chechulin was sentenced to six year suspended sentence.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.