October 20, 2026, 10:54 AMRSSRU

Andrey Vyushin

At largeChecked October 18, 2026

Andrey Vyushin, born 1975, Yaroslavl Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Yaroslavl”. Sentence (October 30, 2023): 2 years 6 months of suspended deprivation of liberty. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, August 11, 2021.

In brief

Yaroslavl Oblast · Yaroslavl · IT specialists · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses

Sentence

2 years 6 months

of suspended deprivation of liberty

Sentence changed October 30, 2023

First instance, August 3, 2023: 6 years 6 months

Charges

Full wording of the charges

According to the investigation, he held worship meetings, "including via the Internet", within the framework of which he promoted prohibited teachings. Initially charged with organising the activities of an extremist organisation, the court of appeal reclassified the charge to participation in such activities.

Latest event

October 29, 2024 — imprisonment ends

Checked October 18, 2026 · no changes since October 15

Recognition by rights defenders

Timeline

  1. · Imprisonment ends

  2. · Persecution ends

  3. · Appeal ruling

    sentence changed · 2 years 6 months

  4. · First-instance verdict

    guilty verdict · 6 years 6 months

  5. · Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)

  6. · Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion

    Memorial Human Rights Centre

Criminal case

The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Yaroslavl

Other defendants in the case

Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Yaroslavl

Details and sources

Full summary

According to OVD-Info

13 April 2021 Vyushin's house is searched and he is detained. On 15 April, the court decided to send him to custody as part of the case on the activities of an extremist organisation. On 14 July the preventive measure was changed to a ban on certain actions. In October it became known that Vyushin was put a tracking bracelet on his leg. On 3 August 2023 he was sentenced to six and a half years of probation. On 30 October, the court of appeal reclassified the charge from organising activities to participation and reduced the sentence to two and a half years suspended.

All fields of the record
Citizenship
Russia
Sources (1)

Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code

Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.

All 929 under this article →