Vasilina Penskaia
Vasilina Penskaia, born 1997, Krasnodar Krai. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “Vasilina Penskaia's case”. Sentence (July 31, 2025): 2 years' suspended sentence. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Krasnodar Krai · NULL · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
2 years
suspended sentence
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Latest event
July 31, 2025 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 2 years.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Vasilina Penskaia's case
Criminal case
Vasilina Penskaia's case
- Case number
- 1-14/2025 (1-52/2024; 1-185/2023;)
Thematic group: The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vyselki
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Vyselki (Krasnodar region), a confectioner. On 13 February 2022, her home was searched. In May 2023, she was prosecuted for participation in the activities of an extremist organisation due to her 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 July, Penskaia signed a covenant not to leave the country. On 31 July 2025, she was sentenced to a two-year suspended sentence.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- travel ban (written undertaking)
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.