Maria Pankova
Maria Pankova, born 1974, Moscow. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “Maria Pankova's case of participation in "extremist" organisations”. Sentence (November 26, 2025): Fine of 500 thousand rubles. Status: at large.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Service workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
Fine of 500 thousand rubles
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
Participation in "extremist" organisations
Latest event
November 26, 2025 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict.
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Maria Pankova's case of participation in "extremist" organisations
Criminal case
Maria Pankova's case of participation in "extremist" organisations
- Case number
- 01-0575/2025
Details and sources
Full summary
Moscow resident, wife of Sergei Tolokonnikov, who was sentenced to five years and two months on charges of involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. On 24 April 2025, law enforcers came to Pankova's flat, saying that she needed to be interrogated in connection with new circumstances that had emerged in her husband's case. After the interrogation, her home was searched. Pankova was accused of participation in the activities of an extremist organisation, also in connection with her involvement in 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.
On 26 November 2025, the court sentenced her to a fine of 500 thousand rubles.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.