Andrei Martynov
Andrei Martynov, born 1964, Chuvashia. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Alatyr”. Sentence (December 21, 2022): 6 years of conditional imprisonment with a probation period of 3 years, with a prohibition on engaging in activities… Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as a political prisoner.
In brief
Chuvashia · Alatyr · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years
of conditional imprisonment with a probation period of 3 years, with a prohibition on engaging in activities related to leadership and participation in the work of public and religious associations and organizations for a period of 4 years, with a restriction of freedom for 1 year.
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, Martynov "organised religious performances and worship services, and carried out preaching activities with the aim of spreading the Jehovah's Witnesses' doctrine"
Latest event
December 21, 2022 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 6 years.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial Human Rights Centre
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Alatyr
Criminal case
Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Alatyr
- Case number
- 1-114/2022
Other defendants in the case
- Mikhail Yermakov — Location unknown
- Nina Martynova — Location unknown
- Zoya Pavlova — Location unknown
Details and sources
Full summary
In June 2021, the Russian Federal Security Service initiated a criminal case against unidentified individuals, and a week later, a series of searches were conducted in the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses in Alatyr. The family of Andrei Martynov had previously been investigated twice (with the first search taking place in 2012). During these searches, law enforcement officials seized electronic devices, photographs, personal records, drawings, and other items that contained inscriptions mentioning the name of God - Jehovah.
In April 2022, Andrei and Nina Martynov, Mikhail Ermakov, and Zoya Pavlova were officially charged. The men were accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization, while the women were charged with involvement and participation in it. In July 2022, the case of these Jehovah's Witnesses went to court, and in December of the same year, the court issued its verdict. The women were fined 350,000 rubles each, and the men received a 6-year suspended sentence. Two months later, the verdict became final following a decision by the appeals court.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.