Alexander Kozlitin
Alexander Kozlitin, born 1975, Sakhalin Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Nevelsk”. Sentence (January 30, 2022): two years' suspended sentence. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, April 5, 2020.
In brief
Sakhalin Oblast · Nevelsk · Drivers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
2 years
two years' suspended sentence
Upheld November 7, 2022
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
carried out "leadership of a religious group consisting of professing Jehovah's Witnesses residents of Nevelsk, material and other support of the group's activities, convening relevant meetings, religious beliefs, ensuring the performance of religious rites and ceremonies, teaching religion and religious education"; clandestinely engaged in deliberate actions to participate in unlawful activities ... by reading aloud texts with religious content ... for further discussion with group members.
Latest event
November 10, 2025 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, April 5, 2020
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Persecution ends
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Nevelsk
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Nevelsk
Other defendants in the case
- Evgeny Yelin — At large, 6 years 6 months
- Vyacheslav Ivanov — At large, 2 years
- Sergey Kulakov — At large, 6 years 6 months
- Tatiana Kulakova — At large, 2 years
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Nevelsk
Details and sources
Full summary
On 5 April 2019, a case was opened against Kozlitin for participation in the activities of an extremist organisation. On 31 January 2022, he was sentenced to two years' suspended sentence.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.