Konstantin Zotov
Konstantin Zotov, born 1982, Sverdlovsk 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); Article 282.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Financing of extremist activities); “The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Beryozovsky”. Status: location unknown. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion.
In brief
Sverdlovsk Oblast · Beryozovsky · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
No information about a verdict.
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
- Article 282.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Financing of extremist activities
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, "together with other members of a local religious cell, he read prayers to Jehovah, sang religious songs, studied banned religious literature, organised the viewing of and participation in demonstrational role-playing games".
Latest event
January 25, 2023 — removed from the rosfinmonitoring list
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Beryozovsky
Criminal case
The second case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Beryozovsky
Other defendants in the case
- Kristina Gruzdeva — Location unknown
- Alexandra Zakharova — Location unknown
- Natalia Kochneva — Location unknown
- Valentina Kugukova — Location unknown
- Stanislav Fokin — Location unknown
- Marina Fokina — Location unknown
Details and sources
Full summary
Berezovsky resident (the Sverdlovsk Region). On the 19th of October 2020, his home was searched as part of a case of participation in the activity of an extremist organisation and the involvement of others in such activity on the basis of Zotov's connection to Jehovah's Witnesses. Members of this community are prosecuted under extremist charges solely because of their religious practises - such as holding meetings and worship services, or recruiting new members. In October of 2021, Zotov was also prosecuted for organising the activity of an extremist organisation. In March of 2022, the cases were merged, the charge of involving others in extremist activity was dropped, but a charge of organising the financing of extremist activity was added.
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.