Anton Kuzhelkov
Anton Kuzhelkov, born 1993, Tambov Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “Anton Kuzhelkov's case of organising the activites of an extremist organisation”. Sentence (October 16, 2025): 6 years 6 months' imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since December 24, 2020. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, August 11, 2021.
In brief
Tambov Oblast · Kirsanov · Construction workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years 6 months
imprisonment in a general regime colony
First instance, May 27, 2025: 6 years 6 months
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 deliberately carried out active actions of an organisational nature on the territory of the town of Kirsanov, Tambov region ... expressed in convening meetings, organising religious speeches and worship services, distributing extremist literature, collecting financial resources under the guise of donations, and carrying out preaching activities
Latest event
October 16, 2025 — appeal
The court changed the sentence to 6 years 6 months.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, August 11, 2021
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 6 years 6 months
· Imprisonment begins
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years 6 months
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Preventive measure: ban on certain activities
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Tambov Oblast
· Persecution begins
Anton Kuzhelkov's case of organising the activites of an extremist organisation
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
Anton Kuzhelkov's case of organising the activites of an extremist organisation
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Kirsanov
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Details and sources
Full summary
On 24 December 2020, Kuzhelkov's home in the Moscow region was searched, and Kuzhelkov was taken for questioning to the Tambov region and then detained. The next day, the court sent him to custody on charges of organising the activities of an extremist organisation. On 1 March 2022, Kuzhelkov's preventive measure was replaced with a ban on certain actions. On 27 May 2025, the court sentenced him to six and a half years of suspended imprisonment. On 16 October 2025, the court of appeal replaced the suspended sentence with a real one.
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.