Vladimir Usenko
Vladimir Usenko, born 1955, Mari El. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Yoshkar-Ola”. Sentence (February 13, 2025): The fine in the amount of 600 thousand rubles. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Mari El · Yoshkar-Ola · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
The fine in the amount of 600 thousand rubles.
No information about an appeal ruling.
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, together with others, "with the observance of conspiracy measures, he took actions to continue the illegal activities... of the religious organization Jehovah's Witnesses "Yoshkar-Ola" by calling meetings of followers of the religious doctrine.
Latest event
September 10, 2026 — removed from the rosfinmonitoring list
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Yoshkar-Ola
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Yoshkar-Ola
Other defendants in the case
- Igor Alekseev — At large
- Ilya Buryi — At large
- Ilya Kapitonov — At large
- Eduard Kapitonov — At large
- Alexei Kulikov — At large
- Sergey Kulikov — At large
- Sergey Naimushin — At large
- Denis Petrov — At large
- Evgenii Plotnikov — At large
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Yoshkar-Ola. On 1st December 2022, he was charged as a defendant in a case of organising activities of an extremist organisation due to his involvement with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Usenko is under a recognisance not to leave the country.
Members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for their religious activities, such as holding meetings and worship services and attracting new followers.
On 13 February 2025 Usenko was sentenced to a fine of 600 thousand rubles.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- travel ban (written undertaking)
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.