Georgy Nikulin
Georgy Nikulin, born 1963, Mordovia. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code (Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Saransk”. Sentence (August 25, 2022): 4 years and two months' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, 1 year and 2 months of supervised release. Status: at large with restrictions. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, December 9, 2020; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, April 5, 2020.
In brief
Mordovia · Saransk · Electricians · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
4 years 2 months
4 years and two months' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, 1 year and 2 months of supervised release.
Upheld October 17, 2023
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code — Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization
- 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, involved in involvement in extremist activities
Latest event
December 30, 2025 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, December 9, 2020
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, April 5, 2020
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Imprisonment begins
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 4 years 2 months
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Republic of Mordovia
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Republic of Mordovia
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Saransk
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Saransk
Other defendants in the case
- Denis Antonov — At large, 2 years
- Vladimir Atryakhin — Imprisoned, 6 years
- Alexander Korolev — At large, 2 years
- Elena Nikulina — Imprisoned, 4 years 2 months
- Alexander Shevchuk — At large, 2 years
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Saransk
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Saransk. On 7 February 2019 he was detained after a search, the next day he was taken into custody by court decision on charges of organising activities of an extremist organisation due to his involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, attracting new supporters.
On 2 July he was released on his own recognisance. Later he was charged with participation in the activities of an extremist organisation and involvement in extremist activities.
On 25 August 2022, he was sentenced to four years and two months in a general regime colony.
On 30 December 2025, Nikulin was released from the colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.