Viktor Spirichev
Viktor Spirichev, born 1980, Krasnodar Krai. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Viktor Spirichev.”. Sentence (December 9, 2025): 2 years of suspended imprisonment with a 2 year probationary period and a 6 month restriction of liberty. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Krasnodar Krai · NULL · Entrepreneurs · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
2 years
of suspended imprisonment with a 2 year probationary period and a 6 month restriction of liberty.
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Latest event
December 9, 2025 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 2 years.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
The case of Viktor Spirichev.
Criminal case
The case of Viktor Spirichev.
- Case number
- 1-11/2025 (1-49/2024; 1-182/2023;)
Thematic group: The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vyselki
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Vyselki (Krasnodar Territory). He worked as a railway fitter, a sales consultant, and then became a self-employed entrepreneur, also working in the construction and repair sector. In May 2023, a criminal case was opened against him for participating in the activities of an extremist organization due to his involvement with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are persecuted under extremist articles solely for their religious activities – holding meetings and worship services, and attracting new followers. In July 2023, Spirichev was placed under a travel ban.
On December 9, 2025, the court sentenced him to two years of suspended imprisonment.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- travel ban (written undertaking)
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.