Olga Opaleva
Olga Opaleva, born 1952, Primorsky Krai. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code (Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Spassk-Dalnyi”. Sentence (May 24, 2023): 4 years 10 months' suspended sentence. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since May 24, 2023. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, January 8, 2020; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, January 8, 2020.
In brief
Primorsky Krai · Spassk-Dalny · Pensioners · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
4 years 10 months
suspended sentence
First instance, February 10, 2023: 5 years
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code — Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
She organised the activities of a prohibited religious organisation in Spassk-Dalnoye
Latest event
May 24, 2023 — appeal
The court changed the sentence to 4 years 10 months.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, January 8, 2020
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, January 8, 2020
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 4 years 10 months
· Imprisonment begins
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 5 years
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Spassk-Dalnyi
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Spassk-Dalnyi
Other defendants in the case
- Dmitry Malevanyi — Imprisoned, 6 years 10 months
- Olga Panyuta — At large with restrictions, 4 years 6 months
- Alexei Trofimov — Imprisoned, 6 years 4 months
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Spassk-Dalnyi
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Details and sources
Full summary
On November 25th, 2018, she was detained and on November, 27th placed under house arrest on charges of organising activities of an extremist organisation. On October 10th 2019, she suffered a stroke while being escorted to court. Acquaintances report that she was paralysed on the left side of her body. On November 19th she was released from house arrest on a recognizance not to leave. February 10th, 2023 she was convicted to four and a half years suspended sentence. On May 24th, the appeals court reduced the sentence by two months.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.