Irina Perefilieva
Irina Perefilieva, born 1965, Karachay-Cherkessia. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code (Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Karachay-Cherkessia”. Sentence (August 27, 2023): 5 years 6 months suspended sentence, 1 year 8 months restriction of liberty. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, August 29, 2023.
In brief
Karachay-Cherkessia · Mednogorsk · Janitors · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
5 years 6 months
suspended sentence, 1 year 8 months restriction of liberty
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code — Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
Perefilieva was accused of organising "meetings, worship services, congresses" of Jehovah's Witnesses from 2017 to 2019, conducting "recruitment talks" and "preaching activities", and holding "classes to study the basics of religious activities and religious literature".
Latest event
March 12, 2026 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, August 29, 2023
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 5 years 6 months
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Karachay-Cherkessia
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Karachay-Cherkessia
- Case number
- 1-28/2023 (1-108/2022;)
Details and sources
Full summary
In January 2021, Jehovah's Witnesses in Mednogorskoye (Karachay-Cherkessia), including Perefilieva's home, underwent "operational-search activities". On 22 November 2021, a case was opened against Perefilieva for involvement in the activities of an extremist organisation (part 1.1 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code), and on 29 November - for participation in such activities (part 2 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code). On 23 November, she was searched. On 15 October 2022, Perefilieva was given a recognizance not to leave, and on 9 November the case came to court. The consideration of the case began on 6 December 2022. On 31 July 2023, during the arguments, the prosecutor asked for a four-year suspended sentence. On 28 August 2023, the Urupsky District Court of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic found 58-year-old Irina Perefilieva guilty of extremism because of her faith. Judge Ida Uzdenova sentenced her to 5 years and 6 months suspended sentence with a probation period of 2.5 years and restriction of liberty for 1 year 8 months.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.