Sergey Kosyanenko
Sergey Kosyanenko, born 1961, Astrakhan Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Financing of extremist activities); “The case of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Akhtubinsk”. Sentence (April 17, 2023): 7 years' imprisonment in a general-regime penal colony, a three-year ban on engaging in activities related to leading or… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since November 9, 2021; place of detention: Penal colony No. 6, Moscow Oblast. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, November 23, 2021.
In brief
Astrakhan Oblast · Akhtubinsk · Teachers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
7 years
imprisonment in a general-regime penal colony, a three-year ban on engaging in activities related to leading or participating in public organisations, and one year of restriction of freedom
Upheld March 18, 2024
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Financing of extremist activities
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, he "organised meetings.... including through the use of videoconferencing ... namely in the form of a collective religious service consisting of public reproduction of audio and video recordings ... successive performances of chants from a special collection of Jehovah's Witnesses' religious teachings and prayers to God Jehovah".
Latest event
March 18, 2024 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, November 23, 2021
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 7 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Astrakhan Oblast
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Akhtubinsk
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Akhtubinsk
- Case number
- 1-9/2023 (1-342/2022;)
Other defendants in the case
- Rinat Kiramov — Imprisoned, 7 years
- Sergei Korolev — Imprisoned, 7 years
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 6, Moscow Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
140405 Московская область, г. Коломна, мкр. Колычево, Колычевский проезд д. 6, ФКУ «ИК № 6 УФСИН по Московской области», Косьяненко Сергей Иванович, 1961 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
On 9 November 2021, he was detained following a search. The next day a court placed him in custody in a case of organising activities of an extremist organisation in connection with his involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Members of this group are prosecuted under extremism articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, attracting new followers. In August 2022, Kosyanenko was also charged with financing extremist activity. On 17 April 2023 he was sentenced to seven years in a general-regime penal 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.