October 20, 2026, 4:38 PMRSSRU

Vladimir Kulyasov

At largeChecked October 18, 2026

Vladimir Kulyasov, born 1974, Penza Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Penza”. Sentence (December 12, 2019): two years' suspended sentence. Status: at large. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, January 8, 2020; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, January 8, 2020.

In brief

Penza Oblast · Penza · Drivers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses

Sentence

2 years

two years' suspended sentence

Verdict December 12, 2019

Upheld December 8, 2021

Charges

Full wording of the charges

Conducted talks in public places and residential premises with residents of Penza, participated in conspiratorial meetings and other activities of the organisation, and paid dues

Latest event

March 17, 2023 — removed from the rosfinmonitoring list

Checked October 18, 2026 · no changes since October 15

Recognition by rights defenders

Timeline

  1. · Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list

  2. · Cassation ruling

    upheld

  3. · Persecution ends

  4. · Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion

    Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners

  5. · First-instance verdict

    guilty verdict · 2 years

  6. · Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”

Criminal case

Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Penza

Other defendants in the case

Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Penza

Details and sources

Full summary

According to OVD-Info

15 July 2018 Vladimir was detained on charges of participation in the activities of an extremist organisation. On 17 July, he was transferred to house arrest.

On 13 December 2019, he was sentenced to two year suspended sentence. On 25 March 2020, the appellate court cancelled the verdict and returned the case for a new consideration. On 9 July, the court of cassation instance, in turn, cancelled the decision and returned the case to the appellate court. On 16 September, the appellate court confirmed the verdict.

All fields of the record
Citizenship
Russia
Sources (2)

Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code

Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.

All 929 under this article →