30 Jul, 2018

List of those prosecuted on charges of belonging to Jehovah’s Witnesses (updated)

According to minimum estimates, as of March 27, 2025, a total of 896 Jehovah's Witnesses have been criminally prosecuted.

Awaiting sentencing are 279 Jehovah's Witnesses:

Detention — 25 people
House arrest — 7 people
Other preventive measures or wanted — 247 people

Sentences have been passed against 477 Jehovah's Witnesses:

Imprisonment or forced labor — 150 people
Suspended sentences — 246 people
Fines — 81 people

Criminal cases have been closed against 140 Jehovah's Witnesses:

Served sentence — 92 people
Criminal prosecution terminated — 34 people
Died — 14 people

Full description

In recent years, a campaign of persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses has been waged in Russia, which assumed a large-scale character after the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation issued a decision on April 20, 2017, recognizing the Administrative Center of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia as an extremist organization. This campaign sharply intensified in April 2018, when searches and arrests began in various regions, which affected dozens of believers, many of whom became defendants in criminal cases and were taken into custody. Most were charged under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Organization of the activities of a religious organization in respect of which a decision has been made to liquidate in connection with the implementation of extremist activity,” up to 10 years’ imprisonment); believers are also persecuted under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Participation in the activities of a religious organization that has been decided to be liquidated due to extremist activity,” up to 6 years’ imprisonment) and under Part 1.1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Incitement, recruitment or other involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization,” up to 8 years’ imprisonment). In addition, we know that in some cases, criminal cases have been initiated under Part 4 of Article 150 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Involvement of a minor in a criminal group,” up to 8 years’ imprisonment). Moreover, in addition to Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code, cases have also been initiated under Part 1 of Article 282.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Financing of extremist activity,” up to 8 years’ imprisonment).

Досье

List of those prosecuted on charges of belonging to Jehovah’s Witnesses (updated)

Full description

Политзаключённые

Cookie options

Functional cookies (required)

Performance cookies