Viktor Ursu
Viktor Ursu, born 1965, Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “Viktor Ursu's case on organising activities of an extremist organisation”. Sentence (September 8, 2025): 6 years' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, prohibition from engaging in activities related to leadership… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since September 8, 2025; place of detention: Pre-trial detention centre No. 1, Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea · Dzhankoy · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years
imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, prohibition from engaging in activities related to leadership and participation in public organizations for 5 years, 1 year's restriction of liberty
Upheld March 12, 2026
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, he was an elder and since 2021 organised the activities of the local religious organisation of Jehovah's Witnesses "Sivash", which had previously been dissolved.
Latest event
March 12, 2026 — 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
· Imprisonment begins
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Persecution begins
Viktor Ursu's case on organising activities of an extremist organisation
Criminal case
Viktor Ursu's case on organising activities of an extremist organisation
Write a letter
Facility: Pre-trial detention centre No. 1, Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
295006, Республика Крым, г. Симферополь, бул. Ленина, 4, ФКУ СИЗО-1 УФСИН России по Республике Крым и г. Севастополь, Урсу Виктор Александрович, 1965 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Dzhankoy (Crimea). In July 2023, law enforcers came to search his home, during the search he was detained for allegedly refusing to show his passport. The believer spent 12 days in the temporary detention cell, after which on 7 August a criminal case was opened against him under the article on organising activities of an extremist organisation due to his involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. On 9 August the court placed him under house arrest.
On 27 August 2024, Ursa was released from house arrest and signed a recognisance not to leave.
On 8 September 2025, the court sentenced him to six years in a general regime penal colony.
In 2018, law enforcement officers came with searches to Viktor Ursu's relative - an elderly believer Aleksandr Ursu, who was exiled to Siberia as a child and later rehabilitated.
Representatives of the Jehovah's Witnesses community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely because of their religious activities - holding meetings and worship services and attracting new supporters.
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.