All assessments of the criminal prosecution of specific individuals, including the designation of detained persons as political prisoners, reflect the position of our Project. Such assessments are not based on the views and assessments of the individuals being prosecuted, their families, friends or lawyers, and do not imply their consent or approval. The information regarding the facts of specific criminal cases published on our Project’s website has been obtained from public sources and does not imply or require the consent of the individuals mentioned therein or their representatives.

Virich Anton Aleksandrovich

Date of birth: March 31, 1980 (46 years old)
City of residence: Лучегорск
Article of the Criminal Code:  282.2 ч. 1
Form of repression:  deprivation of liberty
Pursuit stage:  currently serving a sentence
Date of arrest:  January 1, 1
Sentence:  6 лет лишения свободы в колонии общего режима
Date of sentencing:  April 25, 2024
Current location:  Penal Colony No. 1, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for the Republic of Buryatia

Virich Anton Aleksandrovich, born March 31, 1980, and lives in the city of Luchegorsk, Primorsky Krai. On April 25, 2024, he was sentenced to 6 years and 2 months in a general regime penal colony on charges of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Organizing the activities of an extremist organisation") in connection with his membership in a community of Jehovah's Witnesses, banned in Russia. On August 1, 2024, the term was reduced to 6 years in a general regime penal colony on appeal. Since February 11, 2022, he has been under a written undertaking not to leave, which he was not aware of.
He was detained on July 11, 2023, and has been in custody since July 14, 2023.

  • List of Jehovah’s Witnesses Facing Prosecution (updated)