Dmitrii Golik
Dmitrii Golik, born 1987, Amur Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code (Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Aleksei Berchuk and Dmitrii Golik”. Sentence (February 15, 2022): 6 years 2 months' deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony, 1 year of restricted liberty, prohibition to engage… Status: at large. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, January 8, 2020; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, May 30, 2019.
In brief
Amur Oblast · Blagoveshchensk · Lawyers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years 2 months
deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony, 1 year of restricted liberty, prohibition to engage in activities related to leadership and participation in the work of public organizations for a period of 4 years; exclude the charge of involvement in the activities of an extremist organization
First instance, June 29, 2021: 7 years
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code — Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
Participated in organising the activities of an extremist organisation
Latest event
April 15, 2025 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, January 8, 2020
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, May 30, 2019
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Amur Oblast
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 7 years
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
The case of Aleksei Berchuk and Dmitrii Golik
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
Criminal case
The case of Aleksei Berchuk and Dmitrii Golik
Other defendants in the case
- Alexey Berchuk — Imprisoned, 8 years
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Blagoveshchensk
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Blagoveshchensk. In July 2018, it became known that Golik was accused of participating in the activities of an extremist organisation due to his 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. Golik was given a recognisance not to leave the country. Later it became known that he was accused of organising the activities of an extremist organisation and involvement in extremist activities.
On 30 June 2021 he was sentenced to seven years in a general regime colony. On 3 September, the appeals court dropped the charge of involvement in extremist activity and reduced the sentence by ten months. On 15 April 2025, Golik was released.
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.