October 20, 2026, 10:52 AMRSSRU

Evgeny Reshetnikov

At largeChecked October 18, 2026

Evgeny Reshetnikov, born 1974, 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 300 thousand rubles. 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 300 thousand rubles

Verdict July 28, 2025

No information about an appeal ruling.

Charges

Full wording of the charges

deliberately, acting with 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.

Checked October 18, 2026 · no changes since October 15

Recognition by rights defenders

Timeline

  1. · First-instance verdict

    guilty verdict

  2. · Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)

  3. · Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion

    Memorial Human Rights Centre

  4. · Preventive measure: house arrest

  5. · Persecution begins

    The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Gryazi

  6. · Preventive measure: pre-trial detention

    Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Lipetsk Oblast

Criminal case

The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Gryazi

Other defendants in the case

Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Gryazyakh

Details and sources

Full summary

According to OVD-Info

On 16 November 2020, Reshetnikov's home was searched. Detained after interrogation in a case on the activities of an extremist organisation, later the court sent him to custody. On 15 July 2021, he was transferred to house arrest. On 15 November he was released under recognisance not to leave the country. On 28 July 2025, the court sentenced him to a fine of 300 thousand rubles.

All fields of the record
Citizenship
Russia
Preventive measures
travel ban (written undertaking)
Sources (1)

Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code

Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.

All 648 under this article →