Nikolay Kupriyansky
Nikolay Kupriyansky, born 1967, Kursk Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Kursk”. Sentence (May 26, 2025): 4.5 years' imprisonment in a general-regime penal colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since August 8, 2023; place of detention: Penal colony No. 2, Lipetsk Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Kursk Oblast · Kursk · Entrepreneurs · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
4 years 6 months
4.5 years' imprisonment in a general-regime penal colony
First instance, December 2, 2024: 6 years
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, he took part in meetings of the banned Jehovah’s Witnesses community.
Latest event
May 26, 2025 — appeal
The court changed the sentence to 4 years 6 months.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 4 years 6 months
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Kursk Oblast
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Kursk
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Kursk
Other defendants in the case
- Dmitrii Chausov — Location unknown, 1 year 10 months
- Oksana Chausova — At large, 1 year 10 months
Thematic group: The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Kursk
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 2, Lipetsk Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
398007 г. Липецк, ул. Ковалёва, 130Б, ИК-2, ФКУ «ИК № 2 УФСИН по Липецкой области», Куприянский Николай Викторович, 1967 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Nikolay is a resident of Kursk. A criminal case was brought against him and two others because of their involvement with the Jehovah’s Witnesses community. Kupriyansky was accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organisation. He was detained on 8 August 2023 following a search, and on 10 August, the court placed him under house arrest.
On 2 December 2024, Kupriyansky was sentenced to 6 years in a general-regime penal colony. On 26 May 2025, the sentence was reduced on appeal to 4.5 years.
Members of this community are prosecuted under Russia’s anti-extremism laws solely for their religious activities — holding meetings, conducting worship services, and attracting new followers.
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.