Sergey Kulakov
Sergey Kulakov, born 1961, Sakhalin 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 Nevelsk”. Sentence (January 30, 2022): six years and six months of suspended sentence. Status: at large. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, December 11, 2020; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, April 5, 2020.
In brief
Sakhalin Oblast · Nevelsk · Pensioners · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years 6 months
six years and six months of suspended sentence
Upheld November 7, 2022
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
carried out 'management of a religious group consisting of professing Jehovah's Witnesses of Nevelsk residents, material and other support of the group's activities, convening relevant meetings, faith, ensuring the performance of religious rites and ceremonies, teaching religion and religious education'
Latest event
July 15, 2025 — removed from the rosfinmonitoring list
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, December 11, 2020
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, April 5, 2020
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, January 8, 2020
Timeline
· Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list
· Imprisonment ends
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years 6 months
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· 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
- Alexander Kozlitin — At large, 2 years
- Tatiana Kulakova — At large, 2 years
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Nevelsk
Details and sources
Full summary
On 24 December 2018, a case on organising the activities of an extremist organisation was initiated. A personal recognizance not to leave was chosen as a measure of restraint. On 31 January 2022, he was sentenced to six and a half years suspended sentence.
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.