Sergei Sachnev
Sergei Sachnev, born 1951, Khabarovsk Krai. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The second case of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Komsomolsk-on-Amur”. Sentence (September 30, 2025): 2-year suspended sentence. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Khabarovsk Krai · Komsomolsk-on-Amur · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
2 years
2-year suspended sentence
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Latest event
October 16, 2026 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
The second case of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Criminal case
The second case of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Komsomolsk-on-Amur
- Case number
- 1-44/2025
Other defendants in the case
- Vasily Bondarev — At large, 2 years
- Irina Bondareva — At large, 2 years
- Marina Voitko — At large, 2 years
- Mikhail Dorofeev — At large, 6 years
- Svetlana Zharkova — At large, 2 years
- Nikolay Kovadnev — At large, 6 years
- Ivan Nikitin — At large, 2 years
- Ulita Sachneva — At large, 2 years
- Radion Shitov — At large, 6 years
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Komsomolsk-on-Amur. On 25 May 2023, his home was searched as part of a case on involvement in the activities of an extremist organisation due to his affiliation with the Jehovah's Witnesses community.
Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely on the basis of their religious activities: holding meetings and worship services and attracting new supporters.
On 1 October 2025, the court sentenced Sachnev to a two-year suspended sentence.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.