Viktor Velikov
Viktor Velikov, born 1970, Moscow. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Financing of extremist activities); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Moscow on financing extremist activities”. Sentence (December 18, 2025): 5.5 years' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony and a ban on engaging in activities related to the leadership… Status: imprisoned. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
5 years 6 months
5.5 years' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony and a ban on engaging in activities related to the leadership and participation in the work of public religious organizations for 3 years
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Financing of extremist activities
Latest event
December 18, 2025 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 5 years 6 months.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 5 years 6 months
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Moscow on financing extremist activities
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Moscow on financing extremist activities
- Case number
- 01-0578/2025
Thematic group: The sixth case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Moscow
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Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Moscow. On 10 April 2025, he was placed in custody in a case of financing extremist activities due to his involvement in the activities of the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely because of their religious activities — holding meetings and worship services and attracting new supporters.
Then Velikov was also charged under the article on participation in the activities of an extremist organisation.
On 18 December 2025, the court sentenced him to five and a half years in a general regime colony.
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.