Aleksandr Seredkin
Aleksandr Seredkin, born 1954, Novosibirsk Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “Aleksandr Seredkin's case”. Sentence (November 15, 2022): 6 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: at large. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, January 8, 2020; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, May 30, 2019.
In brief
Novosibirsk Oblast · Novosibirsk · Pensioners · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony
Upheld May 28, 2024
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
He participated in organizing the activities of an extremist organization.
Latest event
December 25, 2025 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, January 8, 2020
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, May 30, 2019
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Imprisonment begins
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Persecution begins
Aleksandr Seredkin's case
Criminal case
Aleksandr Seredkin's case
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Novosibirsk
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Novosibirsk. On April 19, 2019, a search was conducted in Seredkin's apartment. On April 21, he was placed under house arrest on charges of involvement in the activities of an extremist organization due to his affiliation with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for their religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, and attracting new followers. In October, he was released on his own recognizance, subject to a travel ban.
On November 15, 2022, he was sentenced to six years in a general-regime penal colony and taken into custody in the courtroom.
On December 25, 2025, Seredkin was released from the penal colony early due to a serious illness.
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.