Dmitrii Terebilov
Dmitrii Terebilov, born 1980, Kostroma Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code (Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The second Dmitrii Terebilov's case”, opened on April 20, 2023. Sentence (May 28, 2025): 4 years, 10 months and five days’ imprisonment in a strict-regime penal colony; previously convicted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code. Status: at large. Recognition: SOVA Center — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, June 22, 2023; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, September 7, 2021.
In brief
Kostroma Oblast · Kostroma · Janitors · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
4 years 10 months
4 years, 10 months and five days’ imprisonment in a strict-regime penal colony
First instance, January 23, 2025: 5 years
Other verdicts
- September 5, 2021 — 3 years' imprisonment in a strict regime penal colony
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code — Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
The case was initiated on the basis of conversations with fellow inmates about faith.
Latest event
October 20, 2026 — case status changed
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — SOVA Center, June 22, 2023
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, September 7, 2021
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, December 11, 2020
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 4 years 10 months
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 5 years
· Persecution ends
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
SOVA Center
· Criminal case opened
The second Dmitrii Terebilov's case
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 years
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Dmitrii Terebilov's case
Criminal case
The second Dmitrii Terebilov's case
Dmitrii Terebilov's case
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Kostroma. In July 2018, a search was carried out at Teribilov’s home in his absence. In June 2019, it became known that criminal proceedings had been initiated against him for participation in the activities of an extremist organisation in connection with his alleged involvement in the Jehovah’s Witnesses community. Members of this community are prosecuted under extremism-related articles exclusively for their religious activities, including meetings, joint worship services, and the recruitment of new adherents.
Terebilov was placed under a travel restriction.
On 6 September 2021, he was sentenced to three years' imprisonment in a strict-regime penal colony and taken into custody in the courtroom. The strict regime was imposed on the grounds that Teribilov had a prior conviction. According to his own account, he came to faith while serving a sentence in the previous case, and the prison administration itself petitioned for his early release.
In 2023, it became known that a new criminal case was initiated against Terebilov for participation in the activities of an extremist organisation, allegedly due to conversations about faith with a cellmate. On 23 January 2025, he was sentenced in this case to five years and five days’ imprisonment in a strict-regime penal colony. On 28 May 2025, the appellate court reduced the sentence by two months.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Place of detention
- Penal colony No. 1, Kostroma Oblast
- Persecution episodes
- 2
Sources (3)
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.