Gevorg Yeritsyan
Gevorg Yeritsyan, born 1987, Rostov Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Novocherkassk”. Sentence (June 26, 2024): 6 years 2 months' deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since August 11, 2022; place of detention: Penal colony No. 5, Kirov Oblast. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, August 15, 2022.
In brief
Rostov Oblast · Novocherkassk · Entrepreneurs · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years 2 months
deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony
Upheld September 26, 2024
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
Accused of committing an offence under part 1 of article 282.2 (organisation of activities of an extremist organisation) in connection with membership in a community of Jehovah's Witnesses banned in Russia. Remanded in custody since 11 August 2022.
Latest event
September 26, 2024 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, August 15, 2022
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years 2 months
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Novocherkassk
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №3 (SIZO-3) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Rostov Oblast
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Novocherkassk
- Case number
- 1-451/2023
Other defendants in the case
- Lyubov Galitsyna — At large, 2 years 3 months
- Garegin Khachaturian — Imprisoned, 6 years 6 months
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 5, Kirov Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
613040, Кировская область, г. Кирово-Чепецк, ул. Овражная, 16, ФКУ «ИК № 5 УФСИН России по Кировской области», Ерицян Геворг Леванович, 1987 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
On 11 August 2022, local Jehovah's Witnesses were searched at least 10 addresses in the Novocherkassk town (Rostov region). Yeritsyan was taken into custody on charges of organising activities of an extremist organisation in connection with his involvement with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, and attracting new supporters.
On 26 June 2024, he was sentenced to six years and two 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.