Valery Shalev
Valery Shalev, born 1977, Smolensk Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The third case of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Smolensk region”. Sentence (April 22, 2021): Six years six months' suspended imprisonment with a probation period of five years, one year of restriction of liberty… 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, September 22, 2019.
In brief
Smolensk Oblast · Smolensk · Office workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years 6 months
Six years six months' suspended imprisonment with a probation period of five years, one year of restriction of liberty, and a ban on holding positions in religious organisations for four years
Upheld June 6, 2022
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
"organised and conducted a joint prayer to "Jehovah", carried out the demonstration of videos..... informing adherents about participation in congresses .... on the organisation and conduct of subsequent joint meetings"
Latest event
September 1, 2026 — 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, September 22, 2019
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list
· Cassation ruling
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years 6 months
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· 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: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Smolensk Region
· Persecution begins
The third case of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Smolensk region
Criminal case
The third case of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Smolensk region
Other defendants in the case
- Eugene Deshko — At large, 6 years
- Ruslan Korolev — At large, 6 years 6 months
- Viktor Malkov — Deceased
Thematic group: The third case of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Smolensk region
Details and sources
Full summary
On 25 April 2019, detained and the next day taken into custody by court order in a case on the activity of an extremist organisation. On 20 December, transferred under house arrest. On 17 March 2020, he was released on his personal recognisance.
On 23 April 2021, sentenced to six and a half years' suspended sentence.
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.