Nikolay Saparov
Nikolay Saparov, born 1981, Adygea. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Nikolai Saparov”. Sentence (January 17, 2024): 6 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since March 23, 2022; place of detention: Penal colony No. 5, Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast.
In brief
Adygea · Maykop · Construction workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony
Upheld March 19, 2025
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
committed acts of an organisational nature... by organising meetings using the Internet ... coordinating the speeches and worship at these meetings
Latest event
March 19, 2025 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №2 (SIZO-2) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Republic of Adygea
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
· Persecution begins
The case of Nikolai Saparov
Criminal case
The case of Nikolai Saparov
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 5, Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
196641, Санкт-Петербург,поселок Металлострой, Северный проезд, 1, ФКУ «ИК № 5 УФСИН России по Санкт-Петербургу и Ленинградской области», Сапаров Николай Владимирович, 1981 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
He was detained on the night of 23 March 2022 at Mineralnye Vody airport and taken into custody by court order the next day. Saparov later said that after his detention he was subjected to violence, including the use of a stun gun. On 6 May, the case went to court. On 17 January 2024, Saparov was sentenced to six years in a general regime colony on charges of involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, attracting new supporters.
Saparov told the court on 28 November that after his detention at Mineralnye Vody airport, law enforcers used violence against him, including the use of a stun gun. According to Saparov, they forced him into a car and took him about 300 kilometres away to a law enforcement department in Adygeya. On the way, the officers beat him and intimidated him into confessing guilt.
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.