Roman Gumenyuk
Roman Gumenyuk, born 1982, Sakhalin Oblast. 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); “Roman Gumenyuk's case”. Sentence (November 19, 2024): 5 years' of conditioned prison sentence with a probationary period of 3 years, restrictions on freedom for 2 years. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Sakhalin Oblast · NULL · IT specialists · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
5 years
of conditioned prison sentence with a probationary period of 3 years, restrictions on freedom for 2 years
Upheld January 24, 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
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, "through unspecified technical means in the format of video-conferencing in unspecified places.... took part in regular meetings during which he propagated extremist ideology", and also "preached and disseminated Jehovah's Witnesses' doctrines among residents of the Sakhalin region with the aim of seeking and consistently inducing new individuals to participate in the activities of the local Jehovah's Witnesses religious organisation ... by holding conversations on religious topics".
Latest event
January 24, 2025 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· Imprisonment begins
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 5 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Roman Gumenyuk's case
Criminal case
Roman Gumenyuk's case
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Korsakov (Sakhalin Oblast). In August 2023, a search took place at his home. Gumenyuk was accused of participation and involvement in the activities of an extremist organisation due to his involvement with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely because of their religious activities: holding meetings and worship services and attracting new supporters. On 19 November 2024, Humenyuk was sentenced to five years' conditioned sentence.
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.