Konstantin Samsonov
Konstantin Samsonov, born 1977, Stavropol Krai. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.3 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code (Financing extremist activities); “Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Neftekumsk”. Sentence (August 4, 2022): a fine in the amount of one million four hundred thousand roubles. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, January 8, 2020; Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, January 8, 2020.
In brief
Stavropol Krai · Neftekumsk · Engineers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
7 years 6 months
a fine in the amount of one million four hundred thousand roubles
First instance, April 18, 2022: 7 years 6 months
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.3 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code — Financing extremist activities
Full wording of the charges
participated in organising the activities of an extremist organisation; participated in fundraising, knowing that the money would be used both to support the activities of the extremist organisation UCSI (the Management Centre of Jehovah's Witnesses) and the extremist organisation IRO, which is part of its structure
Latest event
August 4, 2022 — appeal
The court changed the sentence to 7 years 6 months.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, January 8, 2020
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, January 8, 2020
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 7 years 6 months
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №2 (SIZO-2) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Stavropol Krai
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 7 years 6 months
· Persecution ends
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: ban on certain activities
· Persecution begins
Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Neftekumsk
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Criminal case
Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Neftekumsk
Other defendants in the case
- Alexander Akopov — At large
- Shamil Sultanov — At large
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Neftekumsk
Details and sources
Full summary
On 7 December 2018, a criminal case was initiated in Neftekumsk, Stavropol Krai, under part 1 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code (organisation of activity of an extremist organisation). On 9 December, at least eight searches of Jehovah's Witnesses were conducted in the city as part of the investigation. Three people - Alexander Akopov, Konstantin Samsonov and Shamil Sultanov - were arrested, one more person was declared wanted.
On 5 December 2019, Samsonov was released from custody and a preventive measure in the form of a ban on certain actions was chosen.
In June 2020, it became known that Samsonov was also accused of raising funds for the needs of an extremist organisation.
On 19 April 2022, he was sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment in a general regime colony. On 5 August, the court of appeal replaced the term with a fine of one million 400 thousand rubles, obliging, taking into account the time served, to pay 400 thousand.
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.