Mikhail Zelensky
Mikhail Zelensky, born 1960, Ulyanovsk Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Ulyanovsk”. Sentence (October 7, 2020): Three years of a suspended sentence and eight months of a non-custodial sentence. Status: at large. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, January 8, 2020; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, May 30, 2019.
In brief
Ulyanovsk Oblast · Ulyanovsk · Former military personnel · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
3 years
Three years of a suspended sentence and eight months of a non-custodial sentence
Upheld January 28, 2021
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of 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
Promoted the ideas of Jehovah's Witnesses, promoted the superiority of these ideas over other religious teachings, sought out venues for meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses, and participated directly in the events held
Latest event
January 1, 2023 — persecution ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, January 8, 2020
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, May 30, 2019
Timeline
· Persecution ends
· Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 years
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: ban on certain activities
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Persecution begins
The case of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Ulyanovsk
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
The case of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Ulyanovsk
Other defendants in the case
- Alexander Ganin — At large, 3 years
- Sergey Mysin — At large, 4 years 6 months
- Natalia Mysina — At large, 2 years 6 months
- Andrei Tabakov — Not in Russia, 3 years
- Khoren Khachikian — At large, 2 years 6 months
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Ulyanovsk
Details and sources
Full summary
On 27 February 2019, he was detained after a search and the next day sent under house arrest by court decision on charges of organising and participating in the activities of an extremist organisation. On 25 April, house arrest was replaced by a ban on certain actions.
On 8 October 2020, sentenced to three years' suspended 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.