Vladimir Ermolaev
Vladimir Ermolaev, born 1988, Zabaykalsky Krai. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Zabaykalsky Krai”. Sentence (June 5, 2022): 6 years 6 months' imprisonment in a general-regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since February 10, 2020; place of detention: Penal colony No. 3, Zabaykalsky Krai. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, April 5, 2020.
In brief
Zabaykalsky Krai · Chita · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years 6 months
imprisonment in a general-regime colony
Upheld March 6, 2023
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
has taken active organisational actions ... expressed in organising meetings, organising religious speeches and services.... collecting financial resources under the guise of donations... involving new participants ... hrough the conduct of preaching activity.
Latest event
March 6, 2023 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, April 5, 2020
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Zabaikalsky Krai
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years 6 months
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Zabaykalsky Krai
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Zabaykalsky Krai
Other defendants in the case
- Sergey Kirilyuk — At large, 6 years
- Igor Mamalimov — Imprisoned, 6 years
- Alexander Putintsev — Imprisoned, 6 years 6 months
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Transbaikalia
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 3, Zabaykalsky Krai
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
672042, Забайкальский край, г. Чита, ул. Угданский проезд, 61, ФКУ «ИК № 3 УФСИН России по Забайкальскому краю», Ермолаев Владимир Владимирович, 1988 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
He was detained on 10 February 2020 after a search in connection with a case concerning the organisation of the activities of an extremist organisation, due to his alleged involvement with the Jehovah’s Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship, and attracting new members. On 12 February the court decided to place Ermolaev under house arrest. On 3 April, he was released under recognisance not to leave. On 6 June 2022, he was sentenced to six and a half years in a general regime penal colony and taken into custody.
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.