Ilya Kapitonov
Ilya Kapitonov, born 2002, 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 roubles. 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 roubles
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 investigators, he "continued the activities of a religious organization... by convening meetings of followers of religious beliefs (teachings) of Jehovah's Witnesses and directly participating in them."
Latest event
August 12, 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
- Eduard 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
A resident of Yoshkar-Ola. On May 11, 2023, he was charged as a defendant in a case of organizing activities of an extremist organization due to his involvement with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Petrov is under travel restrictions.
Members of the Jehovah's Witnesses community are prosecuted under extremism charges solely due to their religious activities: holding meetings and religious services, and attracting new followers.
On February 13, 2025, Kapitonova 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.