Yuri Ponomarenko
Yuri Ponomarenko, born 1958, Primorsky Krai. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Yuri Ponomarenko, Nikolai Dikhtyar, Oleg Sergeyev and Andrey Lyakhov”. Sentence (July 4, 2024): 6 years 4 months' suspended prison sentence, 1 year 6 months' restriction of liberty. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, April 14, 2022.
In brief
Primorsky Krai · Luchegorsk settlement · Pensioners · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years 5 months
6 years 4 months' suspended prison sentence, 1 year 6 months' restriction of liberty
First instance, May 2, 2024: 6 years 6 months
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
Committed deliberate active actions of an organisational nature aimed at organising the continuation of the activities of the banned religious organisation "The Management Centre of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" and the local religious organisations within its structure
Latest event
July 4, 2024 — appeal
The court changed the sentence to 6 years 5 months.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, April 14, 2022
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 6 years 5 months
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years 6 months
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Persecution begins
The case of Yuri Ponomarenko, Nikolai Dikhtyar, Oleg Sergeyev and Andrey Lyakhov
Criminal case
The case of Yuri Ponomarenko, Nikolai Dikhtyar, Oleg Sergeyev and Andrey Lyakhov
Other defendants in the case
- Nikolay Dikhtyar — At large, 2 years 5 months
- Andrey Lyakhov — At large, 2 years 7 months
- Oleg Sergeyev — At large, 6 years 3 months
Thematic group: The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Luchegorsk
Details and sources
Full summary
On 22 July 2021, Ponomarenko's home was searched. On 24 July, he was interrogated in connection with the case of organising activities of an extremist organisation, during the interrogation it became clear that the investigation has an audio recording of a telephone conversation with Ponomarenko, held in 2018. He was released on personal recognisance. On 2 May 2024, sentenced to six and a half years' suspended sentence. On 4 July 2024, the court of appeal reduced the sentence by one month.
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.