Elena Zorn
Elena Zorn, born 1972, Primorsky Krai. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vladivostok”. Sentenced on February 3, 2025. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Primorsky Krai · Vladivostok · Teachers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
3 years
Suspended prison sentence
Upheld July 28, 2025
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
participated in the activities of an extremist organisation
Latest event
July 28, 2025 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 years
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vladivostok
Criminal case
The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vladivostok
- Case number
- 1-79/2023 (1-532/2022;)
Other defendants in the case
- Nina Astvatsaturova — At large, 3 years
- Elena Barmakina — At large, 3 years
- Roman Verigin — Location unknown
- Violetta Verigina — Location unknown
- Alibek Kartaiganov — Location unknown
- Ludwiga Katanayeva — At large, 3 years 4 months
- Igor Lonchakov — Imprisoned, 7 years
- Yuri Redozubov — Imprisoned, 6 years 6 months
- Ekaterina Treguba — At large, 3 years 4 months
Thematic group: The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vladivostok
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Vladivostok. In April 2020 an investigator summoned her ‘for the time being as a witness’ in the case of Elena Barmakina, who is accused of involvement with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. She was later forcibly brought in for questioning and then an investigator went to her place of work and, although it was closed due to the pandemic, he demanded that it be opened, threatening otherwise to break down the doors and prosecute Zorn. On 2 July 2020, she was added to Rosfinmonitoring's list of extremists and terrorists. A week later, Tsorn was searched as part of a case of participation in the activities of an extremist organisation in connection with the activities of the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely because of their religious activities - holding meetings and worship services and attracting new supporters. On 3 February 2025, a verdict was handed down, the details are unknown.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- travel ban (written undertaking)
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.