Vladimir Chertov
Vladimir Chertov, born 1972, Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization). Status: location unknown. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner.
In brief
Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
No information about a verdict.
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
In 2017, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation decided to liquidate the Jehovah's Witnesses organisation and its regional subdivisions due to extremist activities. According to the investigation, despite this, a resident of the village of Zaprudnoye in the Alushta urban district, who was a member of the supreme governing body of the regional cell, continued to ensure its active operation.
Latest event
September 23, 2025 — added to the rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of the village of Zaprudnoye in occupied Crimea. On 27 August 2025, he and 18 other Jehovah's Witnesses were searched. Chertov was detained on the case of organising activities of an extremist organisation in connection with 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.
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.