October 20, 2026, 11:08 AMRSSRU

Andrey Lyakhov

At largeChecked October 18, 2026

Andrey Lyakhov, born 1978, Primorsky Krai. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Yuri Ponomarenko, Nikolai Dikhtyar, Oleg Sergeyev and Andrey Lyakhov”. Sentence (July 4, 2024): 2 years 7 months' suspended deprivation of liberty, 1 year of restricted liberty. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, April 14, 2022.

In brief

Primorsky Krai · Luchegorsk settlement · Drivers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses

Sentence

2 years 7 months

suspended deprivation of liberty, 1 year of restricted liberty

Sentence changed July 4, 2024

First instance, May 2, 2024: 2 years 8 months

Charges

Full wording of the charges

participated in the activities of an extremist organisation

Latest event

July 4, 2024 — appeal

The court changed the sentence to 2 years 7 months.

Checked October 18, 2026 · no changes since October 15

Recognition by rights defenders

Timeline

  1. · Appeal ruling

    sentence changed · 2 years 7 months

  2. · First-instance verdict

    guilty verdict · 2 years 8 months

  3. · Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion

    Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners

  4. · Persecution begins

    The case of Yuri Ponomarenko, Nikolai Dikhtyar, Oleg Sergeyev and Andrey Lyakhov

  5. · Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)

Criminal case

The case of Yuri Ponomarenko, Nikolai Dikhtyar, Oleg Sergeyev and Andrey Lyakhov

Other defendants in the case

Thematic group: The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Luchegorsk

Details and sources

Full summary

According to OVD-Info

In March 2022, it became known that a criminal case was opened against Lyakhov for participation in the activities of an extremist organisation. A measure of restraint was elected in the form of a signature not to leave. On 2 May 2024 he was sentenced to two years and eight months suspended sentence. On 4 July 2024, the court of appeal reduced the sentence by one month.

All fields of the record
Citizenship
Russia
Sources (1)

Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code

Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.

All 929 under this article →