Mikhail Sveshnikov
Mikhail Sveshnikov, born 1969, Vladimir Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “Mikhail Sveshnikov's case of participation in the activities of an extremist organization”. Sentence (March 26, 2025): A fine of 250,000 rubles. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, August 30, 2023.
In brief
Vladimir Oblast · Kovrov · Janitors · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
A fine of 250,000 rubles.
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
He is accused of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (participation in the activities of an extremist organization) due to his membership in the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses, which is banned in Russia. He was detained on August 23, 2023, and has been under house arrest since then.
Latest event
March 26, 2025 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, August 30, 2023
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Preventive measure: ban on certain activities
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Persecution begins
Mikhail Sveshnikov's case of participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Criminal case
Mikhail Sveshnikov's case of participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Kovrov
Details and sources
Full summary
In August 2023, the Investigative Committee of the Vladimir region initiated a criminal case involving Mikhail Sveshnikov, a father with many children. At the moment of detention Mikhail was thrown to the ground and his hands were twisted behind his back. After the searches, the believer was detained for 24 hours and then sent under house arrest. The investigation deemed his participation in Jehovah’s Witnesses' worship services as extremism. On 18 December 2023, the court elected Sveshnikov a preventive measure in the form of a ban on certain actions. On 26 March 2025, he was sentenced to a fine of 250 thousand rubles.
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.