Ruslan Zaliaev
Ruslan Zaliaev, born 1972, Sverdlovsk Oblast. Charges: Article 150 part 4, Russian Criminal Code (Involvement of a minor in committing a crime as part of a criminal group or in committing a serious…); Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code (Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Karpinsk”. Status: at large. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, December 11, 2020; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, April 5, 2020.
In brief
Sverdlovsk Oblast · Karpinsk · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
No information about a verdict.
Charges
- Article 150 part 4, Russian Criminal Code — Involvement of a minor in committing a crime as part of a criminal group or in committing a serious crime
- Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code — Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
Participated in the activities of an extremist organisation, involved others in the activities of an extremist organisation, involved minors in the activities of a criminal group
Latest event
January 21, 2026 — removed from the rosfinmonitoring list
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, December 11, 2020
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, April 5, 2020
Timeline
· Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list
· Persecution ends
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Persecution begins
The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Karpinsk
Criminal case
The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Karpinsk
- Case number
- 1-11/2021 (1-184/2020;)
Other defendants in the case
- Venera Dulova — At large
- Daria Dulova — At large
- Svetlana Zaliaeva — At large
- Alexandr Prianikov — At large
- Anastasia Prianikova — At large
Thematic group: The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Karpinsk
Details and sources
Full summary
On 30 March 2020, Zaliaev's and his wife's home was searched. On 19 May, a criminal case was opened against Zaliaev for participation in the activities of an extremist organisation, and he was given a recognizance not to leave the country. Zaliaev is not a believer of Jehovah's Witnesses. Later it became known that Zaliaev was also prosecuted for involvement in the activities of the organisation and involvement of minors in a criminal group. On 9 August 2023, the court sent the case back to the prosecutor's office. In March 2025, the investigator dropped the case.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 150 part 4, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.