Igor Lonchakov
Igor Lonchakov, born 1977, Primorsky Krai. 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 Vladivostok”. Sentence (February 3, 2025): 7 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since February 3, 2025; place of detention: Penal colony No. 13, Sverdlovsk Oblast. 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.
In brief
Primorsky Krai · Vladivostok · Office workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
7 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony
Upheld July 28, 2025
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
Involved in organizing the activities of an extremist organization.
Latest event
July 28, 2025 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
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
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 7 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Primorsky Territory
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Persecution begins
The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vladivostok
Criminal case
The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vladivostok
- Case number
- 1-79/2023 (1-532/2022;)
Other defendants in the case
- Nina Astvatsaturova — At large, 3 years
- Elena Barmakina — At large, 3 years
- Roman Verigin — Location unknown
- Violetta Verigina — Location unknown
- Alibek Kartaiganov — Location unknown
- Ludwiga Katanayeva — At large, 3 years 4 months
- Yuri Redozubov — Imprisoned, 6 years 6 months
- Ekaterina Treguba — At large, 3 years 4 months
- Elena Zorn — At large, 3 years
Thematic group: The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vladivostok
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 13, Sverdlovsk Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
622013, Свердловская область, г. Нижний Тагил, ул. Кулибина д. 61, ФКУ «ИК № 13 ГУФСИН России по Свердловской области»«Красная утка», Лончаков Игорь Владимирович, 1977 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Vladivostok. On September 4, 2020, he was charged with organizing the activities of an extremist organization due to his involvement with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Members of this community are prosecuted under extremism laws solely for their religious activities, such as holding meetings and services and recruiting new followers. On February 3, 2025, Lonchakov was sentenced to seven years in a general regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Sources (3)
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.