Elena Nesterova
Elena Nesterova, born 1967, Khabarovsk Krai. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Saniia Uzianbaeva and 4 other residents of Bashkortostan”. Sentence (July 4, 2023): 5 years' suspended sentence, 1 year and 8 months' restriction of liberty. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, November 13, 2021.
In brief
Khabarovsk Krai · Komsomolsk-on-Amur · Financiers and accountants · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
5 years
suspended sentence, 1 year and 8 months' restriction of liberty
First instance, March 23, 2023: 5 years
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
August 6, 2025 — persecution ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, November 13, 2021
Timeline
· Persecution ends
· Imprisonment ends
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 5 years
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 5 years
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Persecution begins
The case of Saniia Uzianbaeva and 4 other residents of Bashkortostan
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
Criminal case
The case of Saniia Uzianbaeva and 4 other residents of Bashkortostan
Other defendants in the case
- Tatiana Bondarenko — At large, 5 years
- Tatiana Svoboda — At large with restrictions, 5 years
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Khabarovsk Krai. On 20 October 2021, Nesterova's home was searched, she was interrogated and released with a recognisance not to abscond as part of a case of participation in the activities of an extremist organisation. On 23 March 2023, she was sentenced to five years' suspended sentence. On 4 July, the appeal court added a year and eight months of restriction of liberty to this term.
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.