Maria Kuznetsova
Maria Kuznetsova, born 1988, Yaroslavl Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Yaroslavl”. Sentence (August 3, 2023): 2 years 6 months' suspended sentence, 6 months of restriction of freedom. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, August 11, 2021.
In brief
Yaroslavl Oblast · Yaroslavl · Service workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
2 years 6 months
suspended sentence, 6 months of restriction of freedom
Upheld October 30, 2023
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
Kuznetsova held worship meetings, both in person and online, where she promoted prohibited teachings.
Latest event
February 25, 2025 — persecution ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, August 11, 2021
Timeline
· Persecution ends
· Imprisonment ends
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years 6 months
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: ban on certain activities
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Yaroslavl
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Yaroslavl
Other defendants in the case
- Andrey Vyushin — At large, 2 years 6 months
- Alexander Kuznetsov — At large, 2 years 6 months
- Pyotr Filiznov — At large, 2 years 6 months
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Yaroslavl
Details and sources
Full summary
13 April 2021 Kuznetsova's house was searched and she was detained. On 15 April, the court ruled to take Kuznetsova into custody in a case of the activities of an extremist organization. On 14 July detention was changed to a ban on certain actions. 3 August 2023 Kuznetsova received a two and a half years suspended sentence.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.