Konstancia Esaulkova
Konstancia Esaulkova, born 1970, Saint Petersburg. Charges: Article 171 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code (Act of carrying out of business activities without mandatory registration by the government, or…); Article 282 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code (Incitement of hatred or enmity); Article 282.1 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code (The creation and management of a extremist group); “The case of the Church of Scientology of St. Petersburg”. Sentence (August 24, 2023): a fine of 600,000 roubles, to be exempted from the execution of the sentence. Status: at large. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, January 21, 2018; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as a political prisoner, January 15, 2018.
In brief
Saint Petersburg · Saint Petersburg · Lawyers · Extremism cases
Sentence
a fine of 600,000 roubles, to be exempted from the execution of the sentence
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 171 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code — Act of carrying out of business activities without mandatory registration by the government, or without licenses or accreditation, if such an act has caused damage to individuals or the state.
- Article 282 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code — Incitement of hatred or enmity
- Article 282.1 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code — The creation and management of a extremist group
Full wording of the charges
was involved in illegal entrepreneurship - selling books and providing various paid services, organising the activities of an extremist community and humiliating parishioners
Latest event
February 25, 2026 — removed from the rosfinmonitoring list
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, January 21, 2018
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial Human Rights Centre, January 15, 2018
Timeline
· Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list
· Persecution ends
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict, released from serving the sentence
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Persecution begins
The case of the Church of Scientology of St. Petersburg
Criminal case
The case of the Church of Scientology of St. Petersburg
Other defendants in the case
- Sahib Aliyev — At large
- Ivan Matsitsky — At large, 6 years 6 months
- Anastasia Terentyeva — At large
- Galina Shurinova — At large
Details and sources
Full summary
Sent under house arrest in June 2017 on charges of illegal entrepreneurship, as well as leading an extremist community and humiliating human dignity. Later released on her own recognizance. On 24 August 2023, sentenced to a fine of 600 thousand rubles, released from punishment.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 171 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.