Nikolai Voishchev
Nikolai Voishchev, born 1955, Adygea. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “Nikolai Voishchev' case”. Sentence (September 14, 2023): 3 years' of imprisonment in a general-security colony, 4 years' ban on engaging in educational activities, as well as… Status: location unknown. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, October 25, 2022.
In brief
Adygea · Maykop · Pensioners · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
3 years
of imprisonment in a general-security colony, 4 years' ban on engaging in educational activities, as well as activities related to leadership and participation in religious or social organisations, and 1 year 's restriction of liberty.
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, he "organised and held secret meetings together with other participants and followers of the Jehovah's Witnesses religious movement, through personal communication, telephone conversations and the Internet".
Latest event
February 8, 2026 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, October 25, 2022
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №2 (SIZO-2) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Republic of Adygea
· Persecution begins
Nikolai Voishchev' case
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
Nikolai Voishchev' case
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Maikop. Detained on 20 October 2022 after a search, the next day the court sent him to custody as part of a case of organising activities of an extremist organisation in connection with his involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, attracting new supporters.
On 14 September 2023, Voishchev was sentenced to three years in a general regime colony. On 29 April 2025, he was released.
On 8 February 2026, he died of cancer.
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.