Yuri Yakovlev
Yuri Yakovlev, born 1966, Krasnoyarsk Krai. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “Yuri Yakovlev's case of organizing the activities of an extremist organisation”. Sentence (March 17, 2023): 6 years and 2 months’ imprisonment in a general-regime penal colony, with deprivation of the right to engage in… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since March 30, 2022; place of detention: Penal colony No. 31, Krasnoyarsk Krai. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, March 20, 2023.
In brief
Krasnoyarsk Krai · NULL · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years 2 months
6 years and 2 months’ imprisonment in a general-regime penal colony, with deprivation of the right to engage in activities within public or religious associations for 2 years, and restriction of liberty for 1 year
Upheld May 21, 2024
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
The charges were based on covert audio recordings of worship services and conversations with friends on biblical topics. The investigation regarded actions such as “setting the time of meetings via online broadcasts”, “pastoral work”, and “supervising preaching activities” as constituting the organisation of the activities of an extremist organisation.
Latest event
May 21, 2024 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, March 20, 2023
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years 2 months
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
Yuri Yakovlev's case of organizing the activities of an extremist organisation
Criminal case
Yuri Yakovlev's case of organizing the activities of an extremist organisation
- Case number
- 1-89/2022
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 31, Krasnoyarsk Krai
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
660111 Красноярский край, г. Красноярск, ул. Кразовская д. 10, ФКУ «ИК № 31 ГУФСИН России по Красноярскому краю», Яковлев Юрий Александрович, 1966 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
In March 2022, Russia’s Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against Yury Yakovlev, a resident of Sosnovoborsk (Krasnoyarsk Krai). The following day, his home was searched, and he was placed in a pre-trial detention center on charges of participating in the activities of an extremist organisation due to his alleged involvement with the Jehovah’s Witnesses community. Members of this community are prosecuted under anti-extremism laws solely for their religious activities — holding meetings, conducting worship services, and attracting new members. In June 2022, the case went to court. In March 2023, the believer was sentenced to six years and two months in prison, and on May 21, 2024, the Court of Appeal upheld the sentence.
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.