Anton Virich
Anton Virich, born 1980, Primorsky Krai. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “Anton Virich's case”. Sentence (July 31, 2024): 6 years of imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since July 14, 2023; place of detention: Penal colony No. 1, Buryatia.
In brief
Primorsky Krai · Luchegorsk settlement · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years
of imprisonment in a general regime colony
First instance, April 25, 2024: 6 years 2 months
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, Anton organised the activities of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Latest event
October 1, 2024 — imprisonment begins
Timeline
· Imprisonment begins
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 6 years
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years 2 months
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №4 (SIZO-4) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Primorsky Krai
· Persecution begins
Anton Virich's case
Criminal case
Anton Virich's case
Thematic group: The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Luchegorsk
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 1, Buryatia
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
671160, Селенгинский р-н, Бурятия, г. Гусиноозерск, ФКУ «ИК № 1 УФСИН России по Республике Бурятия», Вирич Антон Александрович, 1980 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Virich was detained on 11 July 2023 in Krasnoyarsk krai, it later appeared that he had become the subject of a criminal case.
After the detention, the believer was informed that since 11 February 2022, he had been under a travel restriction, though Virich said that he was not aware of this and had not received the relevant notifications. After arrest, Virich was taken to Primorsky krai and then placed in custody on charges of organising the activities of an extremist organisation in connection due to his 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 attraction of new supporters.
On 25 April 2024, Virich was sentenced to six years and two months in a general regime colony. On 1 August 2024, the court slightly mitigated the sentence: the term was reduced by two months, six years in a colony in total.
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.