Sergey Polyakov
Sergey Polyakov, born 1972, Omsk Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.3 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code (Financing extremist activities); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Omsk”. Sentence (November 29, 2020): Three years' imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, January 8, 2020; Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, January 8, 2020.
In brief
Omsk Oblast · Omsk · Entrepreneurs · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
3 years
Three years' imprisonment in a general regime colony
Upheld January 9, 2023
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.3 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code — Financing extremist activities
Full wording of the charges
In May 2018, he came to the Azovsky German National Municipal District of the Omsk Region, where he began to conduct "propaganda activities to attract local residents to participate in the activities of the Jehovah's Witnesses organisation"
Latest event
January 9, 2023 — court ruling
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, January 8, 2020
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, January 8, 2020
Timeline
· Court ruling
upheld
· Persecution ends
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 years
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· 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 the Omsk Oblast
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Omsk
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Omsk
Other defendants in the case
- Gaukhar Bektimirova — At large, 2 years 3 months
- Dinara Dyusekeeva — At large, 2 years
- Anastasia Polyakova — At large, 2 years 6 months
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Omsk
Details and sources
Full summary
On 4 July 2018, Polyakov and his wife were searched, beaten and then detained. On 6 July, he was arrested on charges of participation in the activities of an extremist organisation. In December, transferred under house arrest. Later released on his own recognisance.
30 November 2020 sentenced to three years in a general regime colony, taken into custody in the courtroom. On 30 November 2022, he was released.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.