Alexander Popras
Alexander Popras, born 1967, Lipetsk Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Gryazi”. Sentence (July 28, 2025): a fine of 550,000 roubles. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, August 11, 2021.
In brief
Lipetsk Oblast · Gryazi · Electricians · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
a fine of 550,000 roubles
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
deliberately, acting from extremist motives expressed in the propaganda of the advantage of followers of the religious doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses over other persons, negative evaluation of persons who are not followers of this religious doctrine ... continued to spread among the residents of Gryazi, Lipetsk region, the ideology and beliefs of this extremist organisation
Latest event
July 28, 2025 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, August 11, 2021
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Gryazi
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Gryazi
Other defendants in the case
- Svetlana Vyrezkova — At large
- Sergey Kretov — At large
- Tatiana Morlang — At large
- Natalia Perekatiy — At large
- Alexander Podolin — At large
- Evgeny Reshetnikov — At large
- Valerii Khmil — At large
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Gryazyakh
Details and sources
Full summary
On 1 June 2021, Popras' home was searched. He was detained after interrogation in a case on the activities of an extremist organisation, later released. On 28 July 2025, the court sentenced him to a fine of 550 thousand rubles.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- travel ban (written undertaking)
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.