Andrei Plekhanov
Andrei Plekhanov, born 2000, Tomsk Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “Jehovah's Witnesses' case in Tomsk”. Status: imprisoned. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Tomsk Oblast · Tomsk · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
No information about a verdict.
Preventive measure: pre-trial detention since June 1, 2025
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, two local residents and two foreign nationals took part in the activities of a local extremist religious organisation, fully aware that its operations had been prohibited by a ruling of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation. They conducted discussions, including via online video conferences, with the aim of preaching and introducing citizens to the religious ideology of the organisation.
Latest event
March 24, 2026 — added to the rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Tomsk Oblast
· Persecution begins
Jehovah's Witnesses' case in Tomsk
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
Jehovah's Witnesses' case in Tomsk
- Case number
- 1-360/2026
Other defendants in the case
- Evgenii Abramov — Imprisoned
- Yana Abramova — Imprisoned
- Gonhi Jahi — Imprisoned
- Evgenii Dodolin — Imprisoned
- Tatiana Dodolina — Imprisoned
- Anton Novopashin — Imprisoned
- Yuri Pichugin — Imprisoned
- Vladimir Pushkov — Imprisoned
- Aisulu Tastaibekova — Imprisoned
Write a letter
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
634510, Россия, Томская область, г. Томск, ул. Пушкина, 48, ФКУ СИЗО-1 УФСИН России по Томской области, Плеханов Андрей Сергеевич, 2000 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Tomsk.
On 30 May 2025, law enforcement officers carried out searches at at least four addresses of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Tomsk. As a result, four individuals aged between 24 and 65 were detained: Anton Novopashin, a Kazakh citizen; Gonkhi Jakhi, a student from Côte d’Ivoire; Andrei Plekhanov; and Yuri Pichugin, who had recently suffered a stroke. They have been charged with participation in extremist activities. All four were remanded in custody.
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.