Sean Antonio Pike
Sean Antonio Pike, born 1971, Moscow. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Moscow”. Sentence (December 22, 2023): 7 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since August 26, 2021; place of detention: Penal colony No. 9, Novgorod Oblast.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
7 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony
Upheld June 9, 2025
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
Involved in organising the activities of an extremist organisation
Latest event
June 9, 2025 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 7 years
· Persecution begins
The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Moscow
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Moscow
Other defendants in the case
- Alexander Rumyantsev — Imprisoned, 7 years 6 months
- Eduard Sviridov — At large, 6 years 6 months
Thematic group: The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Moscow
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 9, Novgorod Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
175130, Новгородская область, Парфинский муниципальный район, р.п. Парфино, Народная ул., зд. 9., ФКУ «ИК № 9 УФСИН России по Новгородской области», Пайк Шон Антонио, 1971 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Moscow. On 26 August 2021, detained, the next day taken into custody by court order on charges of organising activities of an extremist organisation in connection with 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. For the first weeks, Pike was forced to sleep on the floor in his cell. On 22 December 2023, Pike was sentenced to seven years in a general regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Guyana
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.