Valery Klokov
Valery Klokov, born 1985, Altai Krai. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “Valery Klokov's case”. Sentence (February 7, 2025): 3 years' deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony, 1 year's restriction of liberty, prohibition to engage in… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since February 7, 2025; place of detention: Penal colony No. 5, Altai Krai. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Altai Krai · Barnaul · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
3 years
deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony, 1 year's restriction of liberty, prohibition to engage in activities related to the placement of materials on public information or telecommunications networks, including the Internet, for a period of 2 years
Upheld April 25, 2025
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
The investigation believes that since 2021, Klokov and other unidentified persons "carried out actions to support the existence of the local religious organisation of Jehovah's Witnesses "Barnaul", including by holding conversations to promote the activities of the organisation, participation in events held by representatives of the organisation".
Latest event
April 25, 2025 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for for Altai Krai
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Persecution begins
Valery Klokov's case
Criminal case
Valery Klokov's case
Thematic group: The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Barbaul
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 5, Altai Krai
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
658209, Алтайский край, г.Рубцовск, ул.Тракторная, 23, ФКУ «ИК № 5 УФСИН России по Алтайскому краю», Клоков Валерий Валерьевич, 1985 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Barnaul. On 10 July 2023, criminal proceedings were initiated against him for organising activities of an extremist organisation due to his involvement in the activities of the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely because of their religious activities - holding meetings and worship services and attracting new supporters.
On 29 July, his home was searched, he was detained and taken for questioning to the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia for Altai Krai, and on 31 July the court appointed a measure of restraint in the form of house arrest.
It is reported that on 2 August law enforcement agencies visited believers at two more addresses in Barnaul.
Initially, Klokov was accused of participating in the activities of an extremist organisation, but on 5 April 2024 the charge was reclassified to organising such activities.
On 28 June 2024, the court changed Klokov's preventive measure to a ban on certain actions, but the prosecutor appealed this decision.
On 7 February 2025, the Barnaul resident was sentenced to three years in a general regime 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.