October 20, 2026, 1:56 PMRSSRU

Yuri Kolotinsky

At largeChecked October 18, 2026

Yuri Kolotinsky, born 1955, Altai Krai. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Barnaul”. Sentence (May 13, 2024): 2 years 3 months of suspended prison sentence. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.

In brief

Altai Krai · Barnaul · Pensioners · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses

Sentence

2 years 3 months

of suspended prison sentence

Verdict May 13, 2024

Upheld July 19, 2024

Charges

Full wording of the charges

According to the investigation team, he "carried out activities in support of the existence of the local religious organisation of Jehovah's Witnesses "Barnaul", including by holding talks... as well as direct participation in events held by representatives of this organisation".

Latest event

July 19, 2024 — appeal

The court upheld the verdict.

Checked October 18, 2026 · no changes since October 15

Recognition by rights defenders

Timeline

  1. · Appeal ruling

    upheld

  2. · Imprisonment begins

  3. · First-instance verdict

    guilty verdict · 2 years 3 months

  4. · Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”

  5. · Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)

  6. · Persecution begins

    The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Barnaul

Criminal case

The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Barnaul

Other defendants in the case

Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Barnaul

Details and sources

Full summary

According to OVD-Info

In May 2021, mass searches in the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses, including Kolotinsky's, took place in Barnaul and surrounding towns.

In October 2022, the investigation team opened a criminal case against Anatoly Sarychev and Yuri Kolotinsky, combining their cases together with the case of Mikhail Reshetnikov. They signed a promise not to leave the country.

In December 2022, the criminal case went to court. On May 13, 2024 Kolotinsky was sentenced to two years and three months with suspended sentence.

All fields of the record
Citizenship
Russia
Sources (1)

Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code

Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.

All 929 under this article →