Evgeny Tarasov
Evgeny Tarasov, born 1981, Moscow. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The Nurism case in Moscow”. Sentence (June 27, 2023): 6 years 6 months' deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since October 5, 2021; place of detention: Penal colony No. 4, Tver Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, July 24, 2025.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Entrepreneurs · Extremism cases
Sentence
6 years 6 months
deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony
Upheld November 8, 2023
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, Tarasov organised the activities of the Nurcular cell in Moscow from December 2017 to October 2021. According to the prosecution, he knew that the movement was recognised as extremist, yet for four years he did "everything possible" to continue the activities of the cell. In particular, the man organised a "madrassa" in his flat, where he invited people for "gradual transformation of personality and change of worldview in accordance with the ideology of Said Nursi's teachings". According to prosecution witnesses, Nursi's books had a "negative impact on their worldview and consciousness, increasing the level of aggression towards other social, political and religious groups". The investigation also believes that Tarasov visited the Nurcular association in Turkey and was involved in editing and designing covers for Nursi's books.
Latest event
July 24, 2025 — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, July 24, 2025
Timeline
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years 6 months
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
The Nurism case in Moscow
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
The Nurism case in Moscow
- Case number
- 01-0020/2023 (01-1093/2022)
Other defendants in the case
- Urdash Abdullaev — Imprisoned, 6 years
- Ilmir Abdullin — At large, 2 years 7 months
- Parviz Zeynalov — Imprisoned, 6 years
- Mukazhan Ksiupov — Imprisoned, 6 years
- Nikolai Nesterovich — At large, 2 years 7 months
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 4, Tver Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
172011, Тверская область, г. Торжок, ул. Старицкая, д. 79, ФКУ «ИК № 4 УФСИН России по Тверской области», Тарасов Евгений Павлович, 1981 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
On 5 October 2021 he was detained after a search, on 7 October taken into custody on charges of organising activities of an extremist organisation, namely the Nurcular movement, which, according to experts, does not actually exist on the territory of the Russian Federation. On 27 June 2023, he was sentenced to six and a half years in a general regime 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.