Ekaterina Olshevskaya
Ekaterina Olshevskaya, born 1984, Amur Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “Second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Blagoveshchensk”. Sentence (December 6, 2024): 2 years and 2 months of compulsory labour, execution of the sentence suspended until the son reaches 14 years of age. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, August 11, 2021.
In brief
Amur Oblast · Blagoveshchensk · Unemployed · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
2 years and 2 months of compulsory labour, execution of the sentence suspended until the son reaches 14 years of age
Upheld January 14, 2026
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
January 14, 2026 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, August 11, 2021
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Persecution begins
Second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Blagoveshchensk
Criminal case
Second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Blagoveshchensk
Other defendants in the case
- Krystyna Golik — At large
- Valentina Ermilova — At large
- Maria Portnyagina — At large
Thematic group: The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Blagoveshchensk
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Blagoveshchensk. In July 2021, Olshevskaya was charged with participation in the activities of an extremist organisation in connection with her 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. They have signed a non-departure order. On 6 December 2024 Olshevskaya was sentenced to two years and two months of forced labour. The court imposed a suspended sentence until Olshevskaya's son turns 14.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- travel ban (written undertaking)
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.