Yuri Chernyshev
Yuri Chernyshev, born 1963, 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' imprisonment in a general regime colony, prohibition to engage in activities related to the management… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since November 24, 2020; place of detention: Penal colony No. 3, Smolensk Oblast. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, January 27, 2021.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Engineers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years 3 months
imprisonment 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 imprisonment
Upheld November 22, 2024
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, involved in organising the activities of an extremist organisation
Latest event
November 22, 2024 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, January 27, 2021
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years 3 months
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Persecution begins
Fourth case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Moscow
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
Fourth case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Moscow
Other defendants in the case
- Vardan Zakaryan — Not in Russia, 4 years 3 months
- Vitaly Komarov — Imprisoned, 6 years 3 months
- Ivan Tchaikovsky — Imprisoned, 6 years 3 months
- Sergei Shatalov — Imprisoned, 6 years 3 months
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 3, Smolensk Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
215500, Смоленская область, г. Сафоново, микрорайон Горный, посёлок Шахта 3, ФКУ ИК-3 УФСИН России по Смоленской области, Чернышев Юрий Евгеньевич, 1963 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
On 24 November 2020, Chernyshev was detained following a search of his home. Three days later, on 27 November, a court placed him under house arrest on charges of organizing the activities of an extremist organization due to his involvement with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Members of this community are prosecuted under extremist laws solely for engaging in religious activities, such as holding meetings, conducting worship services, and recruiting new members.
On 31 March 2023, Chernyshev was sentenced to six years and three months in a general regime colony.
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.