Elena Chernykh
Elena Chernykh, born 1976, Kemerovo Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Elena Chernykh and Vera Semicheva in Prokopyevsk”. Sentence (April 12, 2024): 3 years' conditioned imprisonment. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Kemerovo Oblast · Prokopyevsk · Entrepreneurs · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
3 years
conditioned imprisonment
Upheld June 11, 2024
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, "from extremist motives she took part in the activities of an extremist organisation... consisting in convening meetings... organising religious speeches and worship services at these meetings... carrying out preaching activities". This is how the investigation characterises the peaceful worship services of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Latest event
June 10, 2026 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Persecution begins
The case of Elena Chernykh and Vera Semicheva in Prokopyevsk
Criminal case
The case of Elena Chernykh and Vera Semicheva in Prokopyevsk
- Case number
- 1-343/2023
Other defendants in the case
- Vera Semicheva — At large
Details and sources
Full summary
In 2020, as part of the case against Andrei Vlasov, the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses in Prokopyevsk were searched, including the spouses Yuri and Elena Chernykh, parents of a minor son. In May 2023, another criminal case was opened in Prokopyevsk against unidentified persons. Three months later, a Kemerovo Region local police department investigator brought in Yelena Chernykh and pensioner Vera Semicheva as defendants for conducting "joint worship...based on the Holy Scriptures (Bible)." Both women signed a recognizance not to leave. The case went to trial in September 2023. On 12 April 2024, Chernykh was sentenced to three years' conditional sentence.
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.