Viktor Shchannikov
Viktor Shchannikov, born 1961, Komi Republic. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Financing of extremist activities); “Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Pechora town”. Sentence (December 17, 2024): a fine of 600 thousand roubles. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, August 11, 2021.
In brief
Komi Republic · Pechora · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
a fine of 600 thousand roubles
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Financing of extremist activities
Full wording of the charges
organised and conducted meetings, directed the process of public speakings, readings of religious verses, speeches, collected funds, gave instructions for the implementation of preaching ministry
Latest event
April 14, 2026 — removed from the rosfinmonitoring list
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, August 11, 2021
Timeline
· Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list
· Persecution ends
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Pechora town
Criminal case
Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Pechora town
- Case number
- 1-174/2023
Other defendants in the case
- Nikolay Anufriev — At large
- Alexander Vorontsov — At large
- Sergei Zabora — At large
- Eduard Merinkov — At large
- Pavel Ogorodov — At large
- Gennady Polyakevich — At large
- Alexander Prilepsky — Deceased
- Gennadiy Skutelets — At large
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Pechora
Details and sources
Full summary
In July 2020, Shchannikov's home was searched. On 10 November 2020, a case was opened on organising extremist activities. A recognisance not to leave was signed. On 20 January 2022, the court returned the case to the prosecutor's office. On 17 December 2024, at the reconsideration, Shchannikov was sentenced to a fine, details unknown.
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.