Valerii Minsafin
Valerii Minsafin, born 1971, Kurgan Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “Valerii Minsafin's case”. Sentenced on January 23, 2026. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, August 11, 2021.
In brief
Kurgan Oblast · Shadrinsk · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
Fine
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
involved in the activities of an extremist organisation
Latest event
January 23, 2026 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, August 11, 2021
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list
· Persecution ends
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Persecution begins
Valerii Minsafin's case
Criminal case
Valerii Minsafin's case
- Case number
- 1-111/2026 (1-1064/2025;)
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Kurgan
Details and sources
Full summary
In July 2021, it became known that Minsafin was a suspect in a case of participation in the activities of an extremist organisation due to his involvement with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. He was detained but released two days later. In March 2023, the prosecution against him was discontinued. But in July 2025, the investigation was resumed, and Minsafin was taken recognisance not to abscond. On 23 January he was sentenced to a fine of 400 thousand rubles.
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.