Irina Khvostova
Irina Khvostova, born 1992, Magadan Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Magadan Oblast”. Sentence (March 6, 2024): 1 year 10 months' imprisonment in a general regime colony; 2 years' ban on participation in public speaking. 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
Magadan Oblast · Magadan · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
3 years
1 year 10 months' imprisonment in a general regime colony; 2 years' ban on participation in public speaking
Upheld October 15, 2024
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
Сonducted worship services jointly with others
Latest event
October 14, 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
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 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
· Persecution begins
Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Magadan Oblast
Criminal case
Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Magadan Oblast
- Case number
- 1-12/2023 (1-220/2022;)
Other defendants in the case
- Sergey Agadjanov — At large, 3 years
- Lyubov Asatryan — At large, 3 years
- Galina Dergacheva — At large, 3 years
- Sergey Erkin — At large, 7 years
- Evgeny Zyablov — At large, 5 years
- Inna Kardakova — At large, 3 years
- Konstantin Petrov — At large, 7 years
- Galina Pechko — At large, 3 years
- Ivan Puida — At large, 7 years
- Viktor Revyakin — At large, 3 years
- Mikhail Solntsev — At large, 3 years
- Oksana Solntseva — At large, 3 years
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Magadan Oblast
Details and sources
Full summary
On 20 March 2019, Khvostova's home was searched as part of a case on the activities of an extremist organisation. She signed a recognisance not to abscond. On 6 March 2024, she was sentenced to three years' suspended sentence.
In July 2025, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that Khvostova was deprived of Russian citizenship.
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.