Elena Iashina
Elena Iashina, born 1978, Bryansk Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “Elena Iashina's case of participation in Jehovah's Witnesses activities”. Sentence (June 2, 2023): 2 years and 6 months' suspended sentence with a probation period of 2 years and 6 months, and a restriction of freedom… Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Bryansk Oblast · Unecha · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
2 years 6 months
2 years and 6 months' suspended sentence with a probation period of 2 years and 6 months, and a restriction of freedom for 8 months
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, she participated in a community of Jehovah’s Witnesses, which is banned in Russia.
Latest event
January 1, 2026 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years 6 months
· Persecution begins
Elena Iashina's case of participation in Jehovah's Witnesses activities
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
Criminal case
Elena Iashina's case of participation in Jehovah's Witnesses activities
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of the town of Unecha, Bryansk region. On 11 August 2022, at least four addresses of Jehovah's Witnesses were searched in two towns in the Bryansk region. After that, a criminal case was opened against Iashina for participation i activities of an extremist organisation. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely because of their religious activities - holding meetings and worship services and attracting new supporters. On 2 June 2023, Iashina was sentenced to a two and a half year suspended sentence.
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.