Yevgeny Fomashin
Yevgeny Fomashin, born 1977, Saratov Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); case “Jehovah's Witnesses in Balakovo”. Sentence (November 23, 2023): 550,000 roubles fine, due to the time spent in detention, reduced to 300,000 roubles. Status: at large.
In brief
Saratov Oblast · Balakovo · Engineers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
550,000 roubles fine, due to the time spent in detention, reduced to 300,000 roubles
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, they "resumed and organised the activities of the local religious unit of Jehovah's Witnesses on the territory of Balakovo town, expressed in convening meetings, preaching activities, collecting money under the guise of donations".
Latest event
February 17, 2025 — removed from the rosfinmonitoring list
Timeline
· Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list
· Persecution ends
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Preventive measure: ban on certain activities
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
Jehovah's Witnesses in Balakovo
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
Jehovah's Witnesses in Balakovo
Other defendants in the case
- Alexey Bogatov — At large, 6 years
- Vladimir Mavrin — At large, 6 years
- Andrei Murych — At large
- Sergey Tyurin — At large
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Balakovo
Details and sources
Full summary
In May-June 2021, residents of Balakovo town were under surveillance and their conversations were recorded. A month later, searches took place in 8 homes of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Alexey Bogatov, Vladimir Mavrin, Yevgeny Fomashin, Andrey Murych and Sergey Tyurin were placed in a temporary detention centre after overnight interrogations. Two days later they were imprisoned in a pre-trial detention centre 170 kilometres away from home. The court repeatedly extended the period of their detention, resulting in them spending 10 months in custody.
In January 2023, the court decided to change the preventive measure for the believers to a ban on certain actions. On June 29, 2023, the case was transferred to the Balakovo District Court of the Saratov Region. On November 24, 2023, Fomashin was sentenced to a fine of 550,000 roubles, but the amount was reduced to 300,000, considering the time spent in custody.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.