October 20, 2026, 10:07 AMRSSRU

Alexander Korolev

At largeChecked October 18, 2026

Alexander Korolev, born 1978, Mordovia. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Saransk”. Sentence (August 25, 2022): Two years' deprivation of liberty in a general regime penal colony. Status: at large. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, December 9, 2020; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, April 5, 2020.

In brief

Mordovia · Saransk · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses

Sentence

2 years

Two years' deprivation of liberty in a general regime penal colony

Verdict August 25, 2022

Upheld October 17, 2023

Charges

Full wording of the charges

engaged in "spreading ideology and faith among the residents of the Republic of Mordovia... by holding conversations in public places and residential premises with residents of the city of Saransk and other settlements"

Latest event

June 17, 2024 — imprisonment ends

Checked October 18, 2026 · no changes since October 15

Recognition by rights defenders

Timeline

  1. · Imprisonment ends

  2. · Persecution ends

  3. · Cassation ruling

    upheld

  4. · First-instance verdict

    guilty verdict · 2 years

  5. · Preventive measure: pre-trial detention

    Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Republic of Mordovia

  6. · Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion

    Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners

Criminal case

The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Saransk

Other defendants in the case

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

Details and sources

Full summary

According to OVD-Info

On March 28th 2019, it became known that Korolev is a defendant in the case of organising and participating in the activities of an extremist organisation. He was released on recognizance not to leave. Later, the charge of organising activities of an extremist organisation was dropped.

On August 25th 2022 he was sentenced to two years in a general regime penal colony. On June 17th 2024 Korolev was released.

All fields of the record
Citizenship
Russia
Sources (2)

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 →