Nikolay Stepanov
Nikolay Stepanov, born 1974, Vologda 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 Vologda”. Sentence (November 9, 2022): four years' suspended sentence. Status: at large. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, December 11, 2020; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, April 5, 2020.
In brief
Vologda Oblast · Vologda · Mechanics · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
4 years
four years' suspended sentence
First instance, September 4, 2022: 4 years
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
involved in the resumption of activities of the banned local community of Jehovah's Witnesses "Vologda"
Latest event
November 10, 2022 — imprisonment begins
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, December 11, 2020
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, April 5, 2020
Timeline
· Imprisonment begins
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 4 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 4 years
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: ban on certain activities
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №2 (SIZO-2) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Vologda Oblast
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vologda
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vologda
Other defendants in the case
- Yuri Baranov — At large, 4 years
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vologda
Details and sources
Full summary
On 19 December 2019, he was detained after a search as part of a criminal case on organising activities of an extremist organisation. On 21 December, the court ruled to take Stepanov into custody. 13 August 2020 placed under house arrest. On 25 September, a preventive measure in the form of a prohibition of certain actions was elected.
5 September 2022 sentenced to four years in a general regime colony. On 10 November, the appeal court replaced the prison sentence with a 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.