Alexander Dolganov
Alexander Dolganov, born 1988, Samara Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Alexander Dolganov on participation in the activities of an extremist organisation.”. Sentence (April 8, 2024): 3 years' deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony. Status: at large with restrictions. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, May 22, 2023.
In brief
Samara Oblast · Tolyatti · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
3 years
deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony.
Upheld September 27, 2024
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
On May 15, 2023, Anatoly Grekov, a senior investigator at the Central Interdistrict Investigation Department of Togliatti, separated a new case against 34-year-old Alexander Dolganov from the criminal case against Alexander Chagan, charging him with participation in the activities of an extremist organization (Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
Latest event
April 17, 2026 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, May 22, 2023
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Imprisonment begins
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №4 (SIZO-4) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Samara Oblast
· Preventive measure: ban on certain activities
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
· Persecution begins
The case of Alexander Dolganov on participation in the activities of an extremist organisation.
Criminal case
The case of Alexander Dolganov on participation in the activities of an extremist organisation.
- Case number
- 1-526/2023
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Tolyatti
Details and sources
Full summary
In May 2023, officers of the Investigative Committee and the FSB searched Dolganov's house in Togliatti. A criminal case was opened against him for participation in the activities of an extremist organisation due to his involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, attracting new supporters. After interrogation, he was placed under house arrest for 85 days, and then elected a ban on certain actions. In July 2023, the case went to court. On 8 April 2024, Dolganov was sentenced to three years in a general regime colony.
On 17 April 2026, he was released from the colony.
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.