Vitalii Ilinykh
Vitalii Ilinykh, born 1974, Primorsky Krai. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “Vitalii Ilinykh's case”. Sentence (April 14, 2022): 2 years 6 months' suspended sentence with a 2-year' probation, 8 months' restriction of liberty. Status: at large. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, December 11, 2020; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, April 5, 2020.
In brief
Primorsky Krai · Spassk-Dalny · Former military personnel · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
2 years 6 months
suspended sentence with a 2-year' probation, 8 months' restriction of liberty
Upheld July 27, 2022
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 27, 2025 — persecution ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, December 11, 2020
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, April 5, 2020
Timeline
· Persecution ends
· Imprisonment ends
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years 6 months
· 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
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Persecution begins
Vitalii Ilinykh's case
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
Vitalii Ilinykh's case
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Spassk-Dalnyi
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Ussuriysk (Primorsky Krai). Son of Olga Opaleva, who was criminally convicted for involvement in the activities of the Jehovah's Witnesses community. On 23 October 2019, Ilinykh himself was detained on charges of involvement in the activities of an extremist organisation in connection with the Jehovah's Witnesses. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely because of religious activities - holding meetings and worship services, attracting new supporters. He spent three days in the temporary detention centre, then was released on his own recognisance. On 15 April 2022, Ilinykh was sentenced to two years' suspended sentence.
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.