Sergey Kretov
Sergey Kretov, born 1978, Lipetsk Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Gryazi”. Sentence (July 28, 2025): fine in the amount of 300 thousand rubles. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, August 11, 2021.
In brief
Lipetsk Oblast · Gryazi · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
fine in the amount of 300 thousand rubles
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
deliberately, acting from extremist motives manifested in the propaganda of the superiority of the followers of the religious doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses over other persons, negative assessment of persons who are not followers of this religious doctrine ... continued to spread among the residents of Gryazi, Lipetsk region, the ideology and beliefs of this extremist organisation
Latest event
July 28, 2025 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, August 11, 2021
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Lipetsk Oblast
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Gryazi
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Gryazi
Other defendants in the case
- Svetlana Vyrezkova — At large
- Tatiana Morlang — At large
- Natalia Perekatiy — At large
- Alexander Podolin — At large
- Alexander Popras — At large
- Evgeny Reshetnikov — At large
- Valerii Khmil — At large
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Gryazyakh
Details and sources
Full summary
On November 16, 2020, Kretov's home was searched. He was detained after interrogation in a case on the activities of an extremist organisation, later the court placed him in custody. On July 15, 2021, he was transferred to house arrest. On November 15, he was released on his own recognizance. On July 28, 2025, the court sentenced him to a fine of 300 thousand rubles.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- travel ban (written undertaking)
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.