Alexander Shevchuk
Alexander Shevchuk, born 1989, Mordovia. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Saransk”. Sentence (August 25, 2022): Two years imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, January 8, 2020; Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, January 8, 2020.
In brief
Mordovia · Saransk · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
2 years
Two years imprisonment in a general regime colony
Upheld October 17, 2023
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
Shevchuk allegedly engaged in "spreading ideology and faith among the residents of the Republic of Mordovia by holding conversations in public places and residential premises with residents of the city of Saransk and other settlements"
Latest event
November 3, 2023 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, January 8, 2020
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, January 8, 2020
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Persecution ends
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Republic of Mordovia
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· 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 Republic of Mordovia
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Saransk
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Saransk
Other defendants in the case
- Denis Antonov — At large, 2 years
- Vladimir Atryakhin — Imprisoned, 6 years
- Alexander Korolev — At large, 2 years
- Georgy Nikulin — At large with restrictions, 4 years 2 months
- Elena Nikulina — Imprisoned, 4 years 2 months
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Saransk
Details and sources
Full summary
On 7 February 2019, Shevchuk was detained after a search, taken into custody the next day by court order on charges of organising activity of an extremist organisation. On 2 July, he was released on his own recognisance. Later he was charged with participation in the activities of an extremist organisation.
On 25 August 2022 he was sentenced to two years in a general regime colony.
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.