Elena Nikulina
Elena Nikulina, born 1968, 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): Four years two months' deprivation of liberty in a general regime penal colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since August 25, 2022; place of detention: Penal colony No. 2, Mordovia. 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 · Service workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
4 years 2 months
Four years two months' deprivation of liberty in a general regime penal colony
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
was engaged in "dissemination of ideology and faith among the residents of the Republic of Mordovia... by conducting discussions in public places and residential premises with residents of the city of Saransk and other settlements"
Latest event
October 17, 2023 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
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
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Imprisonment begins
· 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
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· 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
- Georgy Nikulin — At large with restrictions, 4 years 2 months
- Alexander Shevchuk — At large, 2 years
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Saransk
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 2, Mordovia
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
431160, Республика Мордовия, Зубово-Полянский район, п. Явас, ул. Чернореченская, д. 1, ИК-2, ФКУ «ИК № 2 УФСИН России по Республике Мордовия», Никулина Елена Анатольевна, 1968 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
On 6 February 2019, the house of Nikulina and her husband was searched, Nikulina was interrogated at the FSB building. Later it became known that she is a suspect in a case of organising and participating in the activities of an extremist organisation due to her involvement with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Members of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, attracting new followers. She was later charged with participation in the activities of an extremist organisation and involvement in extremist activities. On 25 August 2022, she was sentenced to four years and two months in a general regime penal 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.