Valery Vechkaev
Valery Vechkaev, born 1973, Krasnodar Krai. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vyselki”. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Krasnodar Krai · NULL · Religious figures · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
No information about a verdict.
Preventive measure: ban on certain activities since February 16, 2022
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, in the period from 31 July 2020 to 4 July 2021, the believers "took active actions of an organisational nature, aimed at continuing... the activities... of the Jehovah's Witnesses organisation of Vyselki village, expressed in the convening, opening and closing of meetings, organisation of religious speeches and worship services... coordination of meetings, proposals of topics for discussion, other preaching activities". They are charged with part 1 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
Latest event
February 16, 2022 — preventive measure: ban on certain activities
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Preventive measure: ban on certain activities
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vyselki
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vyselki
- Case number
- 1-4/2025 (1-9/2024; 1-96/2023;)
Other defendants in the case
- Evgeny Bochko — Location unknown
- Vladimir Kolesnikov — At large
- Vitaly Ushakov — At large
- Alexey Shubnikov — At large
Details and sources
Full summary
Valery was born in October 1973 in the village of Vyselki, Krasnodar Krai, and spent most of his life there. He has a maternal half-brother.
As a child, Valery was multifaceted: he played handball, engaged in amateur theatrical performances, and attended a theater group. He had a passion for music from a young age, graduating with honors from a music school in the accordion class. He also sang and played the bass guitar and drums in a vocal-instrumental ensemble.
After school Valery continued his education at the Krasnodar Institute of Culture at the faculty of stage folk ensemble, and then - museology. He initially worked as a security guard, then as an accordionist at the district cultural center, collaborating with choreographers of children's folk dances and creating phonograms for children's concerts. With acquired construction skills, he has been working in interior finishing for the last 20 years.
In 1999 Valery decided to join the Jehovah's Witnesses. Valery met Irina in 1994 and 2 years later they got married.
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.