Evgenii Plotnikov
- Criminal Code
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
- Case category
- Extremism casesCases against Jehovah's Witnesses
- Verdict
- Fine
- Date of verdict
- 2025-02-13
- Region
- Mari El
- City
- Yoshkar-Ola
Case summary
A resident of Yoshkar-Ola. On 15 April 2022, his home was searched as part of a case on the activities of an extremist organisation in connection with his involvement with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. A website dedicated to the persecution of believers in Russia reports that force was used against Plotnikov. He was detained after a search, and a court placed him in custody on April 17. On 12 August 2022, Plotnikov was transferred to house arrest. On 7 October, the preventive measure was replaced by a ban on certain actions.
Representatives of the Jehovah's Witnesses community are prosecuted under extremism-related charges solely in connection with their religious activities: holding meetings and worship services, attracting new followers.
On 13 February 2025, Plotnikov was sentenced to a fine of 600 thousand rubles, but the amount was reduced to 500 thousand rubles, taking into account the time he had already spent in custody.
Others charged under Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
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Source: this person’s record in the OVD-Info political persecution database
Published under CC BY 3.0. The criteria for treating a person as politically persecuted belong to OVD-Info; FACTUM relays their assessment and makes none of its own.
OVD-Info has been designated an «extremist» organisation in Russia — by decision of the Russian authorities, like other independent human rights and media projects.