Alexandr Starikov
Alexandr Starikov, born 1960, Tver Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Tver region”. Sentence (March 27, 2025): 6 years' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, 1 year's of restriction of liberty, 3 years' prohibition to… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since March 27, 2025; place of detention: Penal colony No. 7, Kostroma Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, July 9, 2021.
In brief
Tver Oblast · Konakovo · Air traffic controllers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years
imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, 1 year's of restriction of liberty, 3 years' prohibition to engage in activities related to posting appeals and other materials on public informational and telecommunicational networks, including the «Internet» network
Upheld October 2, 2025
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, together with co-religionists from Konakovo, he was «discussing the Bible via Zoom video conferencing, and also speaking about biblical teachings to the residents of the Konakovo district.»
Latest event
October 2, 2025 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, July 9, 2021
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 Tver Oblast
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Tver region
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Tver region
- Case number
- 12107280001075037
Other defendants in the case
- Oleg Katamov — Imprisoned, 6 years
- Aleksei Kuznetsov — Imprisoned, 6 years
- Aleksandr Shchetinin — Imprisoned, 6 years
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Tverskoy District
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 7, Kostroma Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
156522, поселок Бычиха 12, Костромская область, Костромской р-н, ФКУ «ИК № 7 УФСИН России по Костромской области», Стариков Александр Михайлович, 1960 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Konakovo (Tver Region), a civil aviation pilot. In July 2021, Starikov was searched in Ivanovo, where he had moved from Konakovo to take care of his elderly father. He was given a recognisance not to leave. On the 21st of June, 2023, Starikov was charged with organising the activities of an extremist organisation in connection to his involvement with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely because of their religious activities — holding meetings and worship services and attracting new supporters. On the 27th of March, 2025, Starikov was sentenced to six years in a general regime penal colony.
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.