Viktor Zimovsky
Viktor Zimovsky, born 1969, Stavropol Krai. Charges: Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.3 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code (Financing extremist activities); “Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Georgievsk”. Sentence (February 28, 2023): six years two months suspended sentence. 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
Stavropol Krai · Georgiyevsk · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
6 years 2 months
six years two months suspended sentence
First instance, November 13, 2022: 6 years 2 months
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organization of the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.3 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code — Financing extremist activities
Full wording of the charges
Convened and held participants meetings, discussed with those attending religious intolerance towards representatives of other faiths, promoted the superiority of the organisation teachings over other religions, studied literature included in the federal list of extremist materials, and collected money to finance the organisation.
Latest event
February 28, 2023 — appeal
The court changed the sentence to 6 years 2 months.
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
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 6 years 2 months
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №2 (SIZO-2) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Stavropol Krai
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years 2 months
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
· Persecution begins
Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Georgievsk
Criminal case
Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Georgievsk
Other defendants in the case
- Anatoly Gezik — At large, 4 years 2 months
- Irina Gezik — At large, 4 years 2 months
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Georgievsk
Details and sources
Full summary
On 23 October 2019, Zimovsky's home was searched. Zimovsky became ill, but was taken for questioning, but later released. On 23 January 2020, Zimovsky was detained on charges of organising activities of an extremist organisation and taken into custody by court order the next day. The charge is based on video footage that secretly took place in one of the flats while believers were discussing the Bible together, singing songs and praying. On 23 March he was transferred under house arrest. On 6 May, a measure of restraint in the form of a signature not to leave was chosen. On 6 October 2021 Zimovsky was announced that the preventive measure was cancelled due to the fact that the investigation into his case was suspended on 7 May 2021. The investigation was later resumed. On 14 November 2022, Zimovsky was sentenced to six years and two months in a general regime colony. On 1 March 2023, the appeal court replaced the real term with a 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.