Sona Olopova
Sona Olopova, born 1987, Samara Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “Sona Olopova's case of participation in the activities of an extremist organisation”. Sentence (January 25, 2024): 2 years of forced labour. Status: location unknown. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, May 23, 2023.
In brief
Samara Oblast · Tolyatti · Service workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
2 years of forced labour
Upheld April 3, 2024
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
On 15 May 2023, Anatoly Grekov, Senior Investigator of the Central Interdistrict Investigation Department of Togliatti, initiated a criminal case against 36-year-old Sona Olopova, accusing her of participating in the activities of an extremist organisation (Part 2, Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code). On 1 May 2023, a search was conducted at Olopova's home, and she signed a recognisance not to leave the city. On 28 August 2023, the case was submitted to the Central District Court of Togliatti.
Latest event
January 7, 2026 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, May 23, 2023
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Appeal ruling
guilty verdict
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Persecution begins
Sona Olopova's case of participation in the activities of an extremist organisation
Criminal case
Sona Olopova's case of participation in the activities of an extremist organisation
- Case number
- 1-574/2023
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Tolyatti
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Chapaevsk (Samara region). Worked as a merchandiser and a beauty salon professional. On 16 May 2023, a search was conducted at her home. After interrogation, Olopova was released under recognisance not to leave the town as part of a case of participation in the activities of an extremist organisation. On 25 January 2024, Olopova was sentenced to two years of community work. On 7 July 2025, she was released from the correctional centre on parole.
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.