Nikolay Vasilyev
Nikolay Vasilyev, born 1984, Samara Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Samara”. Sentence (January 25, 2024): 7 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since December 15, 2021; place of detention: Penal colony No. 12, Mordovia. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, January 30, 2024.
In brief
Samara Oblast · Samara · IT specialists · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
7 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony
Upheld May 20, 2024
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 participated in the continuation of the activities of the "Management Centre of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" in the Samara region.
Latest event
July 1, 2024 — imprisonment begins
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, January 30, 2024
Timeline
· Imprisonment begins
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 7 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Samara Region
· Preventive measure: ban on certain activities
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Samara
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Samara
- Case number
- 1-105/2023
Other defendants in the case
- Aram Danielyan — Imprisoned, 7 years
- Denis Kuzyanin — Imprisoned, 7 years
- Sergey Polosenko — Imprisoned, 7 years
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Samara
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 12, Mordovia
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
431101, Мордовия, Зубово- Полянский р-н, пос. Молочница, ул. Новая д.2, ФКУ «ИК № 12 УФСИН России по Республике Мордовия», Васильев Николай Васильевич, 1984 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
In December 2021, at least 10 homes of Jehovah's Witnesses were searched in Samara. In one of the flats, law enforcers tortured and beat believers. Three men - Polosenko, Kuzyanin and Vasilнev - were arrested and sent to custody on charges of participation in the activities of an extremist organisation in connection with their involvement with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, and attracting new supporters.
The Jehovah's Witnesses claimed that when Nikolaн Vasilyev was detained at the home of a co-religionist, torture was used: after the owner of the flat refused to give the law enforcement officers the password to his laptop, they began to put a heated kettle on his hands and pour hot water on his arms, legs and neck; this continued until the witnesses arrived.
In December 2022, Vasilyev was transferred from custody under a ban on certain actions. In April 2023, the case went to trial.
On 25 January 2024, Vasilyev was sentenced to seven years in a general regime colony.
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.