Maksim Khamatshin
Maksim Khamatshin, born 1996, Chelyabinsk Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Maksim Khamatshin”. Sentence (April 3, 2025): 6 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony with a 6-year prohibition to engage in activities related to managing… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since April 3, 2025; place of detention: Pre-trial detention centre No. 3, Chelyabinsk Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Chelyabinsk Oblast · Chelyabinsk · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony with a 6-year prohibition to engage in activities related to managing and participating in activities of religious organizations, with restriction of liberty for a period of 1 year
Upheld September 1, 2025
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, he was involved in organising the activities of an extremist organisation.
Latest event
September 1, 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
· Imprisonment begins
Pre-trial Detention Centre №3 (SIZO-3) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Chelyabinsk Oblast
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №3 (SIZO-3) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Chelyabinsk Oblast
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Persecution begins
The case of Maksim Khamatshin
Criminal case
The case of Maksim Khamatshin
Thematic group: The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Chelyabinsk
Write a letter
Facility: Pre-trial detention centre No. 3, Chelyabinsk Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
456205, Челябинская область, г. Челябинск, ул. Артиллерийская, д. 66а, ФКУ СИЗО-3 ГУФСИН России по Челябинской области, Хаматшин Максим Ринатович, 1996 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Chelyabinsk. On September 8, 2022, his home was searched in connection with a criminal case regarding involvement in the activities of the Jehovah’s Witnesses community, previously initiated against another Chelyabinsk resident, Yevgeniy Bushev. On June 29, 2023, similar criminal charges were brought against Khamatshin himself. He was given a recognisance not to leave the country. On April 3, 2025, Khamatshin was sentenced to six years in a general regime colony.
Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist legislation solely because of their religious activities - holding meetings, conducting worship services, and recruiting new followers.
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.