Vera Semicheva
Vera Semicheva, born 1965, Kemerovo Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Elena Chernykh and Vera Semicheva in Prokopyevsk”. Sentenced on June 11, 2024. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Kemerovo Oblast · Prokopyevsk · Religious figures · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
First instance, April 12, 2024:
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, "due to extremist motives, she took part in the activities of an extremist organisation... those activities included the organisation of meetings... the organisation of religious speeches and worship services at those meetings... preaching activities." This is how the investigation described the peaceful worship services of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Latest event
April 14, 2026 — removed from the rosfinmonitoring list
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list
· Persecution ends
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed
· Imprisonment begins
· First-instance verdict
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Persecution begins
The case of Elena Chernykh and Vera Semicheva in Prokopyevsk
Criminal case
The case of Elena Chernykh and Vera Semicheva in Prokopyevsk
- Case number
- 1-343/2023
Other defendants in the case
- Elena Chernykh — At large, 3 years
Details and sources
Full summary
In 2020, within the case against Andrei Vlasov, the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses in Prokopyevsk were searched, including the home of the spouses Yuri and Elena Chernykh, parents of a minor son. In May 2023, another criminal case was initiated in Prokopyevsk against unidentified persons. Three months later, an investigator of the Kemerovo Oblast Police department brought in Elena Chernykh and pensioner Vera Semicheva as defendants for conducting "joint worship...based on the Holy Scriptures (the Bible)." Both women signed a recognizance not to leave. The court trial started in September 2023. On 12 April 2024, a sentence to Semicheva was issued; details are unknown.
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.