Vera Zolotova
Vera Zolotova, born 1946, Kamchatka Krai. Charges: Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “Jehovah's Witnesses' case in Yelizovo”. Sentence (September 24, 2020): 2 years' suspended sentence. Status: at large. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, September 15, 2018; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, September 15, 2018.
In brief
Kamchatka Krai · Yelizovo · Pensioners · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
2 years
suspended sentence
Upheld January 30, 2023
Charges
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
Participated in organising the activities of an extremist organisation.
Latest event
January 30, 2023 — appeal
The court delivered a guilty verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, September 15, 2018
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, September 15, 2018
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
guilty verdict
· Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Persecution begins
Jehovah's Witnesses' case in Yelizovo
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
Jehovah's Witnesses' case in Yelizovo
Other defendants in the case
- Konstantin Bazhenov — At large, 2 years
- Snezhana Bazhenova — At large, 2 years
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Yelizovo
Details and sources
Full summary
On 19 August 2018, Zolotova was detained and charged with organising the activities of an extremist organisation. On 21 August, she was released on her own recognisance. On 14 November 2019, the court returned the case to the prosecutor's office. On 9 January 2020, the appellate court reversed the decision. On 25 September, the charge was reclassified to participation in the activities of an extremist organisation and Zolotova was sentenced to two years' suspended sentence. On 9 November 2021, the court of cassation cancelled the verdict and returned the case to the appellate court. On 15 December, the verdict was cancelled and the case was returned to the appellate court. On 31 January 2023, Zolotova was sentenced to two years' suspended 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.