Andrei Murych
Andrei Murych, born 1991, Saratov Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); case “Jehovah's Witnesses in Balakovo”. Sentence (November 23, 2023): Fine of 550,000 rubles, reduced to 300,000 rubles due to time spent in custody. Status: at large.
In brief
Saratov Oblast · Balakovo · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
Fine of 550,000 rubles, reduced to 300,000 rubles due to time spent in custody
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
According to the investigation, he "resumed and organised the activities of a local religious branch of the Jehovah's Witnesses on the territory of Balakovo, which involved convening meetings, engaging in preaching activities, and collecting money under the guise of donations"
Latest event
February 17, 2025 — persecution ends
Timeline
· Persecution ends
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Preventive measure: ban on certain activities
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
Jehovah's Witnesses in Balakovo
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
Jehovah's Witnesses in Balakovo
Other defendants in the case
- Alexey Bogatov — At large, 6 years
- Vladimir Mavrin — At large, 6 years
- Sergey Tyurin — At large
- Yevgeny Fomashin — At large
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Balakovo
Details and sources
Full summary
In May-June 2021, residents of Balakovo city were followed and their conversations were recorded. A month later, searches took place in 8 homes inhabited by Jehovah's Witnesses.
Alexei Bogatov, Vladimir Mavrin, Yevgeny Fomashin, Andrei Murych and Sergei Tyurin were placed in a temporary detention centre after overnight interrogations. Two days later they were imprisoned in a pre-trial detention centre 170 kilometres away from their home. The court repeatedly extended their period of detention in the pre-trial detention centre, as a result of which they spent 10 months in custody.
In January 2023, the court decided to change the believers' preventive measure to a ban on certain activities. On 29 June 2023, the case came before the Balakovo District Court of the Saratov Region. On 24 November 2023, Murych was sentenced to a fine of 550,000 roubles, but the amount was reduced to 300,000 after accounting for time spent in custody.
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.