Aleksandr Krushevskii
Aleksandr Krushevskii, born 1978, Jewish Autonomous Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code (Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The fourth case of Jenovah's Witnesses in Bitobidzhan”. Sentence (July 29, 2025): A 5 year suspended sentence with a 1-year and 6-month restriction of freedom. Status: at large.
In brief
Jewish Autonomous Oblast · Birobidzhan · Cooks · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
5 years
A 5 year suspended sentence with a 1-year and 6-month restriction of freedom
Upheld October 2, 2025
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code — Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, "while at various locations in the city of Birobidzhan.... directly participated in general religious events (conversations via online conferences), the purpose of which is to study literature that forms the basis of the beliefs of the Jehovah's Witnesses organization".
Latest event
October 2, 2025 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 5 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Persecution begins
The fourth case of Jenovah's Witnesses in Bitobidzhan
Criminal case
The fourth case of Jenovah's Witnesses in Bitobidzhan
Other defendants in the case
- Anatoly Artamonov — At large, 5 years
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Birobidzhan. A pastry cook, he also worked as a master for servicing and repairing household appliances, a tinsmith of drainage and ventilation systems and a "master for an hour". On February 6, 2024 he was searched. In January 2025 it became known that Krushevsky was accused of participation and involvement in the activities of an extremist organisation due to his involvement in the activities of the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are charged under extremist articles solely because of their religious activities - holding meetings and worship services and attracting new supporters. Krushevsky was given a non-deportation undertaking.
On July 29, the court sentenced him to five years of suspended imprisonment.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- travel ban (written undertaking)
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.