Alexey Khabarov
Alexey Khabarov, born 1975, Pskov Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “Alexey Khabarov's case”. Sentence (October 7, 2024): 2 years 4 months' imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: location unknown. 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
Pskov Oblast · Porkhov · Construction workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
2 years 4 months
imprisonment in a general regime colony
First instance, September 7, 2021: 3 years
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
involved in the activities of an extremist organisation
Latest event
June 16, 2026 — 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 №2 (SIZO-2) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Pskov Oblast
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 years
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Persecution begins
Alexey Khabarov's case
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
Criminal case
Alexey Khabarov's case
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Porkhov
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Porkhov (Pskov Region). Detained on 3 April 2019 after a search. Accused of involvement 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.
Khabarov was given a covenant not to leave the country. In February 2020, the investigator stated that he was going to separate Khabarov's case into a separate proceeding (earlier Khabarov was tried in the same case with another defendant, Sergey Komissarov). In July, the prosecutor's office returned Khabarov's case to the investigator due to the revealed violations. In August, the prosecutor's office approved a new indictment.
On 7 September 2021 Khabarov was sentenced to three years' suspended sentence. On 26 November, the court of appeal cancelled the verdict and sent the case for a new trial to the court of first instance. On 27 June 2022, the court acquitted Khabarov. On 3 November, the appeal court again quashed the acquittal and sent the case for a new trial. On 20 October 2023, Khabarov was sentenced to two and a half years in a general regime colony. On 20 December, the appeal court reduced the sentence by two months.
On 16 January 2026 he was released from the colony.
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.