Valentina Ermilova
Valentina Ermilova, born 1970, Amur Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “Second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Blagoveshchensk”. Sentence (December 6, 2024): 2 years 6 months of compulsory labour. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, August 11, 2021.
In brief
Amur Oblast · Blagoveshchensk · Municipal employees · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
2 years 6 months of compulsory labour
Upheld January 14, 2026
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
participated in the activities of an extremist organisation
Latest event
January 14, 2026 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, August 11, 2021
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Imprisonment begins
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Persecution begins
Second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Blagoveshchensk
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
Criminal case
Second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Blagoveshchensk
Other defendants in the case
- Krystyna Golik — At large
- Ekaterina Olshevskaya — At large
- Maria Portnyagina — At large
Thematic group: The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Blagoveshchensk
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Blagoveshchensk. In August 2021, Ermilova was charged with participation in the activities of an extremist organisation in connection with her 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. A signature of non-departure was taken. On 6 December 2024, Ermilova was sentenced to two and a half years of forced labour.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- travel ban (written undertaking)
- Place of detention
- Correctional centre No. 1, Primorsky Krai
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.