Dmitry Zakharevich
Dmitry Zakharevich, born 1995, Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Financing of extremist activities); “The case of four more Jehovah's Witnesses in Crimea”. Status: under house arrest. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea · Simferopol · IT specialists · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
No information about a verdict.
Preventive measure: house arrest since August 16, 2023
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Financing of extremist activities
Latest event
August 16, 2023 — preventive measure: house arrest
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Persecution begins
The case of four more Jehovah's Witnesses in Crimea
Criminal case
The case of four more Jehovah's Witnesses in Crimea
Other defendants in the case
- Alexander Voronchikhin — Location unknown
- Ekaterina Demidova — Location unknown
- Alexander Kopylets — Under house arrest
Thematic group: The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Crimea
Details and sources
Full summary
In August 2023, searches were conducted in Armyansk, Simferopol, and Saki, including the home of Dmitry Zakharevich.
He and several other worshippers became suspects in a case of involvement in the activities of an extremist organisation in connection with their participation in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Later, their case was allocated to separate proceedings.
On 16 August, Zakharevich was placed under house arrest. Members of this community are being prosecuted as extremists solely on the grounds of their religious activity—holding gatherings and mass and recruiting new members.
On 11 December 2023, the case was remanded to the prosecutor's office. In May 2024, the case went to court.
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.