Aleksandr Shchetinin
Aleksandr Shchetinin, born 1989, Tver 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 the Tver region”. Sentence (March 27, 2025): 6 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony, 1 year of restriction of liberty, prohibition of engagement in… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since March 27, 2025; place of detention: Penal colony No. 4, Tver Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Tver Oblast · Konakovo · Office workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony, 1 year of restriction of liberty, prohibition of engagement in activities related to the placement of appeals and other materials in public information and telecommunication networks, including the Internet, for a period of 3 years
Upheld October 2, 2025
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, together with fellow believers from Konakovo, he "discussed the Bible via Zoom video conferencing, and also spoke about biblical teachings to residents of the Konakovo district."
Latest event
October 2, 2025 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Tver Oblast
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Tver region
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Tver region
- Case number
- 12107280001075037
Other defendants in the case
- Oleg Katamov — Imprisoned, 6 years
- Aleksei Kuznetsov — Imprisoned, 6 years
- Alexandr Starikov — Imprisoned, 6 years
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Tverskoy District
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 4, Tver Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
172011, Тверская область, г. Торжок, ул. Старицкая, д. 79, ФКУ «ИК № 4 УФСИН России по Тверской области», Щетинин Александр Викторович, 1989 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Konakovo, Tver Region. On 21 June 2023, he was charged with organising the activities of an extremist organisation due to his involvement with the Jehovah’s Witnesses community. Members of this community are prosecuted under anti-extremism laws solely for their religious activities: holding meetings and worship services, and attracting new followers. On 27 March 2025, Shchetinin was sentenced to six years in a general-regime penal colony.
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.