Sergey Tyurin
Sergey Tyurin, born 1994, Saratov Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); case “Jehovah's Witnesses in Balakovo”. Sentence (November 23, 2023): Penalty 550,000 rubles (ca US$6,160). Due to detention the fine was reduced to 300,000 (ca US$3,360) rubles. Status: at large.
In brief
Saratov Oblast · Balakovo · Entrepreneurs · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
Penalty 550,000 rubles (ca US$6,160). Due to detention the fine was reduced to 300,000 (ca US$3,360) 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
According to the investigation, they "resumed and organised on the territory of Balakovo the activities of the local religious subdivision of Jehovah's Witnesses, expressed in convening meetings, preaching activities, collecting money under the guise of donations"
Latest event
February 17, 2025 — removed from the rosfinmonitoring list
Timeline
· Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list
· Persecution ends
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Preventive measure: ban on certain activities
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
Jehovah's Witnesses in Balakovo
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
Jehovah's Witnesses in Balakovo
Other defendants in the case
- Alexey Bogatov — At large, 6 years
- Vladimir Mavrin — At large, 6 years
- Andrei Murych — At large
- Yevgeny Fomashin — At large
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Balakovo
Details and sources
Full summary
In May-June 2021, residents of Balakovo city (a city in Saratov region, south-east of Moscow) were followed and their conversations were recorded. A month later, searches took place in 8 homes of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Alexei Bogatov, Vladimir Mavrin, Yevgeny Fomashin, Andrei Murych and Sergei Tyurin were placed in a temporary detention centre after overnight interrogations. Two days later they were detained in a pre-trial detention centre 170 kilometres away from home. The court repeatedly extended the period of detention of the believers in the pre-trial detention centre. As a result they spent 10 months in custody.
In January 2023, the court decided to change their preventive measure to a prohibition of certain actions. On 29 June 2023, the case came before the Balakovo District Court of the Saratov Region. On 24 November 2023, Tyurin was sentenced to a fine of 550,000 rubles (ca US$6160), but the amount was reduced to 300,000 (ca US$3360), taking into account the time spent in custody.
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.