Natalia Sorokina
Natalia Sorokina, born 1975, Smolensk Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Smolensk region”. Sentence (April 21, 2021): Six years' imprisonment suspended with a probationary period of three years. Status: at large. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, January 2, 2019; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, January 2, 2019.
In brief
Smolensk Oblast · Smolensk · Medical workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years
Six years' imprisonment suspended with a probationary period of three years
Upheld September 15, 2021
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
participated in the activities of the Jehovah's Witnesses community, banned as an extremist organisation
Latest event
September 15, 2021 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, January 2, 2019
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, January 2, 2019
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 the Smolensk Region
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Smolensk region
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Smolensk region
Other defendants in the case
- Maria Troshina — At large, 6 years
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Smolensk Oblast
Details and sources
Full summary
On the 7th of October, searches were conducted in the homes of several residents in the Smolensk region. After these searches, Natalia Sorokina ceased any communication. It was later revealed that on the 9th of October, the court had decided to take her into custody in connection with her alleged involvement in an extremist organization. Subsequently, on the 15th of April 2019, she was placed under house arrest.
On the 22nd of April 2021, Sorokina received a suspended sentence of six years.
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.