Vyacheslav Osipov
Vyacheslav Osipov, born 1970, Volgograd Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Financing of extremist activities); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Volgograd”. Sentence (September 22, 2021): Six years three months' deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony, one year's restriction of liberty. Status: at large. 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
Volgograd Oblast · Volgograd · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years 3 months
Six years three months' deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony, one year's restriction of liberty
Upheld January 18, 2023
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Financing of extremist activities
Full wording of the charges
Participated in organising and financing the activities of an extremist organisation
Latest event
April 1, 2026 — imprisonment ends
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
· Imprisonment ends
· Imprisonment begins
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years 3 months
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· 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 Volgograd Oblast
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Volgograd
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Volgograd
Other defendants in the case
- Igor Egozarian — At large, 6 years
- Sergei Melnik — At large with restrictions, 6 years
- Denis Peresunko — At large, 6 years 3 months
- Valeriy Rogozin — At large with restrictions, 6 years 5 months
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Volgograd
Details and sources
Full summary
On the 16th of May 2019, he was apprehended, and on the 19th of May, he was remanded in custody by a court ruling, facing charges related to his alleged involvement in the activities of an extremist organization. On the 27th of December, a preventive measure was imposed, restricting certain actions. However, on the 10th of December 2020, the court decided not to extend the restriction on leaving the house from 22:00 to 6:00.
On the 23rd of September 2021, he received a sentence of six years and three months in a general regime penal colony.
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.