Valerie Ryman
Valerie Ryman, born 1993, Kostroma 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 Kostroma”. Sentence (March 29, 2022): two years' suspended sentence. Status: at large. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, September 15, 2018; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, September 15, 2018.
In brief
Kostroma Oblast · Kostroma · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
2 years
two years' suspended sentence
First instance, October 8, 2020: 7 years
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
held meetings of the banned local religious organisation of Jehovah's Witnesses of Kostroma, where the ideology of the organisation was discussed and its activities promoted
Latest event
January 1, 2023 — persecution ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, September 15, 2018
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, September 15, 2018
Timeline
· Persecution ends
· Appeal ruling
guilty verdict
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 7 years
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Kostroma
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Kostroma
Other defendants in the case
- Sergey Rayman — At large, 3 years
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Kostroma
Details and sources
Full summary
On 25 July she was detained on suspicion of organisation and participation in the activities of an extremist organisation. On 27 July, a preventive measure was chosen in the form of a ban on certain actions - leaving the place of residence at night, communicating with the defendants in the case, sending and receiving mail, using means of communication and the Internet. In January 2019, a measure of restraint was chosen in the form of a recognisance not to leave.
On 25 September, the court returned the case to the prosecutor's office.
On 9 October 2020, sentenced to seven years' suspended sentence. On 26 February 2021, the court of appeal reduced the sentence to two years' probation. On 10 February 2022, the court of cassation instance returned the case to the court of appeal on the prosecution's complaint. On 30 March, the appeal court dismissed the charge of participation in the activities of an extremist organisation and again sentenced Rayman to a two-year suspended sentence.
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.