Adam Svarichevsky
Adam Svarichevsky, born 1963, Amur Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Sergei Afanasiev, Sergei Ermilov, Sergei Kardakov, Anton Olshevsky and Adam Swarichevsky”. Sentence (December 21, 2022): 6 years 3 months' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, prohibition to engage in activities related to… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since December 21, 2022; place of detention: Penal colony No. 31, Primorsky Krai. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, December 11, 2020; Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, December 11, 2020.
In brief
Amur Oblast · Blagoveshchensk · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years 3 months
imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, prohibition to engage in activities related to leadership and participation in public organisations for 4 years 6 months, 1 year of restriction of liberty
Upheld May 11, 2023
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
He participated in organising the activities of the liquidated organisation by holding religious events
Latest event
September 1, 2023 — imprisonment begins
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, December 11, 2020
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, December 11, 2020
Timeline
· Imprisonment begins
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years 3 months
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Amur Oblast
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Persecution begins
The case of Sergei Afanasiev, Sergei Ermilov, Sergei Kardakov, Anton Olshevsky and Adam Swarichevsky
Criminal case
The case of Sergei Afanasiev, Sergei Ermilov, Sergei Kardakov, Anton Olshevsky and Adam Swarichevsky
Other defendants in the case
- Sergey Afanasiev — Imprisoned, 6 years 6 months
- Sergei Ermilov — Imprisoned, 6 years 3 months
- Sergei Kardakov — Imprisoned, 6 years 4 months
- Anton Olshevsky — Imprisoned, 6 years 3 months
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Blagoveshchensk
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 31, Primorsky Krai
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
692623, Приморский край, Чугуевский район, с. Чугуевка, ул. Дзержинского, 1 А, ФКУ «ИК № 31 ГУФСИН по Приморскому краю», Сваричевский Адам Михайлович, 1963 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
On 20 July 2018, Svarichevsky's home was searched. On 10 September 2020, Svarichevsky was charged with participation in the activities of an extremist organisation due to his involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, attracting new supporters. Svarichevsky was given a recognisance not to leave. The charge was later reclassified to organising activities. On 21 December 2022 he was sentenced to six years and three months in a general regime penal colony.
In October 2023, it became known that Svarichevsky was sent to a cell-type room for two months due to the fact that he did not put on a jacket and also lay on the floor, because he could not stand for a long time due to back problems.
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.