Vladimir Fomin
Vladimir Fomin, born 1979, Karachay-Cherkessia. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code (Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “Vladimir Fomin's case of involvement in the activities of an extremist organisation”. Sentence (June 23, 2025): 4.5 years imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since March 21, 2024; place of detention: Penal colony No. 8, Astrakhan Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Karachay-Cherkessia · Cherkessk · Service workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
4 years 6 months
4.5 years imprisonment in a general regime colony
Upheld August 26, 2025
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code — Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Latest event
August 26, 2025 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 4 years 6 months
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
· Persecution begins
Vladimir Fomin's case of involvement in the activities of an extremist organisation
Criminal case
Vladimir Fomin's case of involvement in the activities of an extremist organisation
- Case number
- 1-98/2025
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 8, Astrakhan Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
414044 Астраханская область, г. Астрахань ул. Советской Гвардии, д. 50, ФКУ ИК-8 УФСИН России по Астраханской области, Фомин Владимир Геннадьевич, 1979 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Cherkessk. On February 21, 2024, his home was searched. On March 21, Fomina was detained and on March 23, he was remanded in custody on charges of participating in and involvement in the activities of an extremist organization in connection with his involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are persecuted under extremism laws solely for their religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, and recruiting new followers.
On June 23, 2025, the court sentenced him to four and a half years in a general regime colony.
The believer has been classified as having a second-degree disability. The project “Jehovah's Witnesses: The Legal Situation in Russia” reported that at the age of 20, Fomin was attacked by several men on the basis of hatred. The injuries he sustained during the beating led to his disability.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.