Sergei Klikunov
Sergei Klikunov, born 1975, Astrakhan Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.3 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code (Financing extremist activities); “The case of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Astrakhan”. Sentence (October 24, 2021): 8 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony, 1 year of restriction of liberty. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since June 9, 2020; place of detention: Penal colony No. 2, Tatarstan. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as a political prisoner, October 26, 2021.
In brief
Astrakhan Oblast · Astrakhan · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
8 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony, 1 year of restriction of liberty
Upheld December 21, 2022
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.3 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code — Financing extremist activities
Full wording of the charges
Participated in organising and financing the activities of an extremist organisation
Latest event
January 1, 2026 — imprisonment begins
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial Human Rights Centre, October 26, 2021
Timeline
· Imprisonment begins
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 8 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Astrakhan
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Astrakhan
Other defendants in the case
- Rustam Diarov — Not in Russia, 8 years
- Evgenii Ivanov — Imprisoned, 8 years
- Olga Ivanova — At large with restrictions, 3 years
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Astrakhan
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 2, Tatarstan
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
420021, Республика Татарстан, г. Казань, ул. Производственная, д. 18, ФКУ ИК № 2 УФСИН России по Республике Татарстан, Кликунов Сергей Александрович, 1975 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Astrakhan. On June 9th, 2020, he was detained after a search, and on June 11th taken into custody by court order. Accused of organising activities of an extremist organisation due to his involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, attracting new supporters. Later, Klikunov was also accused of financing extremist activities. On October 25th, 2021, he was sentenced to eight years in a general regime colony. On December 22nd, 2022, the court of cassation slightly mitigated the punishment: previously it was forbidden to him to leave Astrakhan after release, now the court allowed him to choose a place to live on his own.
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.