Vladimir Chesnokov
Vladimir Chesnokov, born 1959, Rostov Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Vladimir Chesnokov, Vladimir Dutkin, and Valery Yakovlev”, opened on June 7, 2021. Sentence (February 9, 2022): 14 years' imprisonment in absentia, ban on administering Internet pages for a period of 4 years. Status: at large.
In brief
Rostov Oblast, Chuvashia · Taganrog, Cheboksary · Pensioners · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
14 years' imprisonment in absentia, ban on administering Internet pages for a period of 4 years
Upheld August 16, 2022
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
Being aware of the unlawfulness of his actions, he organised and held meetings (gatherings) of a religious group of Jehovah's Witnesses in the city of Cheboksary in specially rented premises enclosed by a solid high fence with a separate entrance, excluding any visual and vocal contact with unauthorised persons, under the guise of friendly meetings, tea parties, and cooking kebabs.
Latest event
June 28, 2023 — removed from the rosfinmonitoring list
Timeline
· Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Persecution ends
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Criminal case opened
The case of Vladimir Chesnokov, Vladimir Dutkin, and Valery Yakovlev
· Persecution ends
· Persecution begins
The case of the six Jehovah's Witnesses
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
Criminal case
The case of Vladimir Chesnokov, Vladimir Dutkin, and Valery Yakovlev
Other defendants in the case
- Vladimir Dutkin — At large
- Valery Yakovlev — At large
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Cheboksary
The case of the six Jehovah's Witnesses
Other defendants in the case
- Svetlana Chesnokova — At large
Thematic group: The case of the six Jehovah's Witnesses
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Cheboksary. In October 2013, together with five other members of the Jehovah's Witnesses community, he was accused of involvement in an extremist organisation. In December 2016, the case was dropped due to lack of corpus delicti. On 7 June 2021, Chesnokov was charged with organising the activities of an extremist organisation. He was given a covenant not to leave the country. On 10 February 2022, he was sentenced to a fine of 400,000 rubles.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Persecution episodes
- 2
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.