In penal colony

Yevgeny Stephanidin

Birth date

July 28, 1989

Citizenship

Russia

Family

Case

Jehovah's Witnesses' second case in Izhevsk

Article

Part 1, Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code

Verdict

6 years' suspended imprisonment

Resident of Izhevsk. On 14 December 2022, his home was searched as part of a case of organising activities of an extremist organisation in connection with his involvement with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely because of their religious activities - holding meetings and worship services and attracting new supporters. Stefanidin was given a covenant not to leave the country. On 25 October 2024, he was sentenced to a six-year suspended sentence. On 4 February 2025, the court of appeal replaced the suspended sentence with a real one.