Olga Zhelavskaya
Olga Zhelavskaya, born 1962, Chelyabinsk Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “Case of Olga Zhelavskaya”. Sentence (April 17, 2023): 2 years of suspended prison sentence. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Chelyabinsk Oblast · Chelyabinsk · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
2 years
of suspended prison sentence
Upheld June 30, 2023
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 "acted out of religious motives" and participated in a "collective worship service consisting of the sequential performance of songs ... and prayers to God Jehovah, as well as the study and discussion of articles and religious texts."
Latest event
June 29, 2025 — 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
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Case of Olga Zhelavskaya
Criminal case
Case of Olga Zhelavskaya
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Chelyabinsk
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Chelyabinsk. She worked as a passport officer and dispatcher. On March 26, 2019, her home was searched as part of the case involving the organisation of activities of an extremist organisation initiated against Vladimir Suvorov. Later, Zhelavskaya was charged with participating in the activities of an extremist organisation - as in the case of Suvorov, in connection with her involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Members of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for their religious activities, such as holding meetings and worship services or recruiting new members. On April 14, 2023 Zhelavskaya was sentenced to a two-year suspended prison 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.