Eduard Kapitonov
Eduard Kapitonov, born 1965, Mari El. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Yoshkar-Ola”. Sentence (February 13, 2025): a fine of 600 thousand rubles. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Mari El · Yoshkar-Ola · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
a fine of 600 thousand rubles
No information about an appeal ruling.
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 "continued the activities of the religious organisation.... by convening meetings of followers of the religious beliefs (doctrine) of Jehovah's Witnesses and directly participating in them".
Latest event
July 13, 2026 — removed from the rosfinmonitoring list
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Yoshkar-Ola
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Yoshkar-Ola
Other defendants in the case
- Igor Alekseev — At large
- Ilya Buryi — At large
- Ilya Kapitonov — At large
- Alexei Kulikov — At large
- Sergey Kulikov — At large
- Sergey Naimushin — At large
- Denis Petrov — At large
- Evgenii Plotnikov — At large
- Vladimir Usenko — At large
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Yoshkar-Ola. He is on a recognizance not to leave as part of a case of organising activities of an extremist organisation due to his involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community.
Representatives of the Jehovah's Witnesses community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely in connection with religious activities: holding meetings and worship services and attracting new supporters.
On 13 February 2025, Kapitonov was sentenced to a fine of 600,000 rubles.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- travel ban (written undertaking)
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.