Lyubov Kocherova
- Criminal Code
- Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal CodeArticle 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
- Case category
- Extremism casesCases against Jehovah's Witnesses
- Verdict
- Suspended prison sentence
- Sentence
- 5 years 6 months
- Date of verdict
- 2023-08-01
- Region
- Khabarovsk Krai
- City
- village of Knyaze-Volkonskoye
Case summary
Since April 2020, a resident of the village of Knyaze-Volkonsky, acting on instructions from the FSB, had been secretly recording conversations about the Bible with Lyubov Kocherova and Lyubov Ovchinnikova.
Two years later, a criminal case was opened against the pensioners on charges of participating in and facilitating the activities of the Jehovah’s Witnesses community. Members of this community are prosecuted under Russia’s anti-extremism laws solely for their religious activities — holding meetings, conducting worship services, and attracting new followers.
In March 2023, the case was submitted to the court. In August 2023, Kocherova received a 6-year suspended sentence. In December 2023, the Court of Appeal overturned the sentence and sent the case for a new trial. On 20 January 2025, Kocherova received a 5.5-year suspended sentence.
Others charged under Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code
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Source: this person’s record in the OVD-Info political persecution database
Published under CC BY 3.0. The criteria for treating a person as politically persecuted belong to OVD-Info; FACTUM relays their assessment and makes none of its own.
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