Andrei Lukin
Andrei Lukin, born 1983, Moscow. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Financing of extremist activities); “Andrei Lukin's case of financing extremist organisation”. Sentence (February 12, 2026): 4 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: imprisoned; place of detention: Pre-trial detention centre No. 8, Moscow Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
4 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony.
Upheld May 5, 2026
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Financing of extremist activities
Latest event
May 5, 2026 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 4 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Andrei Lukin's case of financing extremist organisation
Criminal case
Andrei Lukin's case of financing extremist organisation
- Case number
- 01-0581/2025, 1-7/2026 (1-704/2025;)
Thematic group: The sixth case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Moscow
Write a letter
Facility: Pre-trial detention centre No. 8, Moscow Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
141300 Московская область, г. Сергиев Посад, пр. Красной армии, д. 58, ФКУ СИЗО-8 УФСИН России по Московской области, Лукин Андрей Александрович, 1983 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
In April 2025, Lukin was searched in Tver, after which he was taken to Moscow and placed in custody on charges of financing extremist activities in connection with his involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely because of their religious activities - holding meetings and worship services and attracting new followers. In August 2025, a court in Moscow transferred the case due to jurisdiction to a court in Dmitrov, located in the Moscow region, which on 12 February 2026 sentenced Lukin to four years in a general regime colony.
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.