Sergei Kardakov
Sergei Kardakov, born 1984, Amur Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Sergei Afanasiev, Sergei Ermilov, Sergei Kardakov, Anton Olshevsky and Adam Swarichevsky”. Sentence (December 21, 2022): 6 years 4 months' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony with deprivation of the right to engage in activities… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since December 21, 2022; place of detention: Penal colony No. 14, Khabarovsk Krai. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, December 11, 2020; Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, December 11, 2020.
In brief
Amur Oblast · Blagoveshchensk · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years 4 months
imprisonment in a general regime penal colony with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to the management of and participation in the work of public organisations for a period of 4 years 6 months, and 1 year of restriction of liberty
Upheld May 11, 2023
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
participated in organising the activities of the liquidated organisation by conducting religious events
Latest event
July 3, 2023 — imprisonment begins
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, December 11, 2020
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, December 11, 2020
Timeline
· Imprisonment begins
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years 4 months
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Amur Oblast
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Persecution begins
The case of Sergei Afanasiev, Sergei Ermilov, Sergei Kardakov, Anton Olshevsky and Adam Swarichevsky
Criminal case
The case of Sergei Afanasiev, Sergei Ermilov, Sergei Kardakov, Anton Olshevsky and Adam Swarichevsky
Other defendants in the case
- Sergey Afanasiev — Imprisoned, 6 years 6 months
- Sergei Ermilov — Imprisoned, 6 years 3 months
- Anton Olshevsky — Imprisoned, 6 years 3 months
- Adam Svarichevsky — Imprisoned, 6 years 3 months
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Blagoveshchensk
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 14, Khabarovsk Krai
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
682640,Хабаровский край, г. Амурск, шоссе Машиностроителей д.10, ФКУ «ИК № 14 УФСИН России по Хабаровскому краю», Кардаков Сергей Алексеевич, 1984 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
On 1 October 2020, it became known that Kardakov was charged with participating in the activities of an extremist organisation due to his involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Members of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, recruiting new followers. He signed a recognisance not to leave the country. The charges were later reclassified to organising activities. On 21 December 2022, he was sentenced to six years and four months in a general regime penal colony.
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.