October 20, 2026, 5:32 PMRSSRU

Maxim Morozov

At largeChecked October 18, 2026

Maxim Morozov, born 1983, Kemerovo 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 Taiga”. Sentence (August 15, 2023): 3 years' deprivation of liberty in a general regime penal colony, the sentence to be considered served, 6 months'… Status: at large.

In brief

Kemerovo Oblast · Tayga · Drivers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses

Sentence

3 years

deprivation of liberty in a general regime penal colony, the sentence to be considered served, 6 months' restriction of freedom

Verdict August 15, 2023

No information about an appeal ruling.

Charges

Full wording of the charges

Initially, Morozov was accused of having committed actions of an organisational nature aimed at continuing and resuming the illegal activities of the banned organisation "Administrative Centre of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" in the form of convening meetings with the participation of residents of Taiga; using the Zoom computer programme to organise the activities of the banned religious organisation "Administrative Centre of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" in Taiga, Kemerovo Region, by convening and holding meetings of its members; and holding meetings of the banned religious organisation "Administrative Centre of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia". However, at one of the court hearings, the prosecutor stated that there was no evidence of actions of an "organisational nature" and the charge against Morozov was reclassified from organising the activities of an extremist organisation to participation.

Latest event

August 15, 2023 — first-instance verdict

The court delivered a guilty verdict: 3 years.

Checked October 18, 2026 · no changes since October 15

Timeline

  1. · First-instance verdict

    guilty verdict · 3 years

  2. · Preventive measure: pre-trial detention

    Pre-trial Detention Centre №4 (SIZO-4) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Samara Oblast

  3. · Persecution begins

    The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Taiga

  4. · Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility

Criminal case

The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Taiga

Other defendants in the case

Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Taiga

Details and sources

Full summary

According to OVD-Info

On 6 August 2021 he was detained in Togliatti, the next day he was taken into custody on charges of organising activities of an extremist organisation. In September it became known that Morozov would be transferred to Kemerovo region. On 8 August 2023, at one of the court hearings, the prosecutor stated that there was no evidence of actions of "organisational nature", and Morozov was reclassified the charge to participation in the activities of an extremist organisation. On 15 August 2023, Morozov was sentenced to three years in a general regime penal colony, but was released from the sentence due to time served.

All fields of the record
Citizenship
Russia

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