Alexandr Ketov
Alexandr Ketov, born 1968, Komi Republic. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “Syktyvkar Jehovah's Witnesses's case”. Sentence (December 22, 2025): a fine of 500,000 rubles. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Komi Republic · Syktyvkar · Pensioners · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
a fine of 500,000 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, from 2017 to 2021, "acting under conditions of conspiracy, exercised general management of the organization's activities, coordinated illegal activities, organized and held meetings of members of the banned organization and collected funds to finance" the local cell of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Latest event
December 22, 2025 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Preventive measure: ban on certain activities
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Persecution begins
Syktyvkar Jehovah's Witnesses's case
Criminal case
Syktyvkar Jehovah's Witnesses's case
Other defendants in the case
- Alexandr Kruglyakov — At large
- Lidiia Nekrasova — At large
- Sergei Ushakhin — Deceased
- Andrei Harlamov — At large
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Syktyvkar. On 2 March 2021 he was searched at his home, the next day he was placed under house arrest on charges of organizing activities of an extremist organization. On 28 April 2021, the preventive measure was reduced to a ban on certain actions. On 9 June 2022, the court returned the case to the prosecutor's office. On 17 January 2023, the case was retried by the Syktyvkar City Court.
On 22 December 2025, the court sentenced him to a fine of 500 thousand rubles.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- ban on certain activities
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.