Valery Maletskov
Valery Maletskov, born 1974, Novosibirsk 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 Novosibirsk”. Sentence (December 18, 2023): 6 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since December 18, 2023; place of detention: Penal colony No. 3, Novosibirsk Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, December 19, 2023; Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, January 8, 2020.
In brief
Novosibirsk Oblast · Novosibirsk · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony
Upheld January 14, 2025
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
Participated in the activities of an extremist organisation
Latest event
January 14, 2025 — 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, December 19, 2023
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, January 8, 2020
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, May 30, 2019
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Novosibirsk Oblast
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Novosibirsk
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Novosibirsk
- Case number
- 1-16/2023 (1-181/2022;)
Other defendants in the case
- Marina Chaplykina — Imprisoned, 4 years
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Novosibirsk
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 3, Novosibirsk Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
630097, Новосибирская область, г. Новосибирск, ул. Звездная, 34, ФКУ «ИК № 3 ГУФСИН России по Новосибирской области», Малецков Валерий Владимирович, 1974 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
On 19 April 2019, a search took place in Maletskov's flat. On 21 April he was taken under house arrest on charges of involvement in the activities of an extremist organisation in connection with involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, attracting new supporters. In October he was released on his own recognisance. On 18 December 2023, Maletskov was sentenced to six years in a general regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Sources (3)
- Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
- Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
- Memorial Human Rights Centre — Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.