Lyubov Ovchinnikova
- Criminal Code
- Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal CodeArticle 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
- Case category
- Extremism casesCases against Jehovah's Witnesses
- Verdict
- Suspended prison sentence
- Sentence
- 5 years 6 months
- Date of verdict
- 2023-08-01
- Region
- Khabarovsk Krai
- City
- village of Knyaze-Volkonskoye
Case summary
Since April 2020, a resident of the village of Knyaze-Volkonskoe, on the assignment of the FSB, began to make audio recordings of conversations about the Bible with Lyubov Kocherova and Lyubov Ovchinnikova.
Two years later, a criminal case was opened against the pensioners on charges of participation in the activities of an extremist organisation and involvement in such activities in connection with their involvement in the activities of the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely because of their religious activities - holding meetings and worship services and attracting new supporters.
In March 2023, the case went to court. In August 2023, Ovchinnikova was given a six-year suspended sentence. In December 2023, the court of appeal cancelled the sentence and sent the case for a new trial. On 20 January 2025, Ovchinnikova was sentenced to a five and a half year suspended sentence.
Others charged under Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code
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Source: this person’s record in the OVD-Info political persecution database
Published under CC BY 3.0. The criteria for treating a person as politically persecuted belong to OVD-Info; FACTUM relays their assessment and makes none of its own.
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