Igor Zhmyrev
Igor Zhmyrev, born 1970, Leningrad Oblast. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); “Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Kingisepp”. Status: imprisoned. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Leningrad Oblast · Kingisepp · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
No information about a verdict.
Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking) since December 1, 2023
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
At the end of February 2023, 7 searches were conducted in the towns of Kingisepp and Slantsy (Leningrad region). The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case under the extremist article against Kirill Khabrik, Igor Zhmyryov and other unidentified persons. Charges were also brought against Sergei Ryabokony, Andrei Morozov and Yevgeniy Poveshchenko. The latter was given a measure of restraint in the form of a recognizance not to leave, while the others were remanded in custody. At the end of March, searches took place in Kingisepp again. Eleven believers were questioned. Five more people became defendants in the criminal case - Miroslav Sabodash, Igor Shevliuga, Tatyana Stepanova, Alexander Vaganov and Konstantsiya Vovk. They were placed in the temporary detention centre, but were soon released, while Shevliuga spent 26 days in the pre-trial detention centre. All five are under a ban on certain actions.
Latest event
October 29, 2025 — added to the rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Persecution begins
Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Kingisepp
Criminal case
Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Kingisepp
- Case number
- 12302410007000017
Other defendants in the case
- Alexander Vaganov — At large
- Konstancia Vovk — At large
- Andrey Morozov — Imprisoned
- Evgeniy Poveshenko — At large
- Sergey Ryabokon — Imprisoned
- Miroslav Sabodash — At large
- Tatiana Stepanova — At large
- Kirill Khabrick — At large
- Igor Shevlyuga — At large
Write a letter
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
196655, Ленинградская область, г. Колпино, Колпинская ул., д. 9, ФКУ СИЗО-1 УФСИН России по Санкт-Петербургу и Ленинградской области "Кресты", Жмырев Игорь Юрьевич, 1970 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of the Leningrad Region. Worked as a controller at the Centre for Protection of Industrial Facilities. On 21 February 2023, Zhmyrev was taken into custody on charges of organising and participating in the activities of an extremist organisation. Zhmyrev twice wrote applications with a request to transfer him to a non-smoking cell, but he never received a reply. No letters were handed to him. In December 2023, Zhmyrev was released on his own recognisance.
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.