Four Jehovah’s Witnesses from Konakovo are political prisoners
Aleksandr Starikov, Aleksei Kuznetsov, Oleg Katamov and Aleksandr Shchetinin were sentenced to 6 years in prison on charges of extremism
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Aleksandr Starikov, Aleksei Kuznetsov, Oleg Katamov and Aleksandr Shchetinin to be political prisoners. They are being pursued under the article on the organization of activity of an extremist organization. The criminal case of Jehovah’s Witnesses from Konakovo violates their right to religious freedom. We demand the immediate release of Jehovan’s Witnesses from custody and the cessation of their criminal prosecution.
What’s the case about?
In July 2021, security forces conducted searches of local Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Tver and Ivanovo regions. After that, Aleksandr Starikov and Sergei Naumenko were taken away for questioning. A case was opened against the believers under the article on organizing the activities of an extremist organization (Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code). They are accused of discussing the Bible with fellow believers on Zoom and disseminating information about the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses among residents of the Konakovsky District.
In June 2023, Starikov, Naumenko, as well as Aleksei Kuznetsov, Oleg Katamov and Aleksandr Shchetinin were charged under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.
The case went to court in October 2023.
On March 27, Judge Ekaterina Vershinina of the Konakovo District Court of the Tver Region sentenced Aleksandr Starikov, Aleksei Kuznetsov, Oleg Katamov, and Aleksandr Shchetinin to 6 years in a general regime penal colony; after the verdict was announced, they were taken into custody. They did not admit their guilt.
The case of Sergei Naumenko was separated into a separate proceeding and suspended.
Why do we consider imprisoned Jehovah’s Witnesses to be political prisoners?
On April 20, 2017, the Supreme Court of Russia issued a decision to recognize the Jehovah’s Witness Administrative Center in Russia as an extremist organization.
We believe that charges, brought solely on the grounds that people, being Jehovah’s Witnesses, participated in rituals and meetings, or distributed materials of this faith are discriminatory and violate international legal norms, particularly their right to freedom of religion. Prosecution under Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code is directly coming down to the fact that the believer was part of an organized religious group and is certainly unlawful.
On June 7, 2022, the European Court of Human Rights found the ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia and the persecution of believers to be illegal.
ECHR stated that Russia had violated the rights of believers on the freedom of religion (article 9 of the European Convention), freedom of expression (article 10), freedom of assembly and association (article 11) and also respect of property (article 1 of protocol 1 to the European Convention).
Our brief provides a detailed description of the case and the human rights project’s position.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project agrees with, or approves, their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
You can write to Aleksandr Starikov, Aleksei Kuznetsov, Oleg Katamov and Aleksandr Shchetinin at the following addresses:
In Russian:
- Стариков Александр Михайлович, 1960 г. р.
- Катамов Олег Викторович, 1962 г. р.
- Кузнецов Алексей Владимирович, 1974 г. р.
- Щетинин Александр Викторович, 1989 г. р.
170100, Тверская область, г. Тверь, ул. Вагжанова, д. 141, ФКУ СИЗО-1 УФСИН России по Тверской области.
In English:
Aleksandr Mikhailovich Starikov (born 1960),
Oleg Viktorovich Katamov (born 1962),
Kuznetsov Aleksei Vladimirovich (born 1974),
Aleksandr Vladimirovich Shchetinin (born 1989),
Remand Prison No. 1, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Tver Oblast, 141 Vagzhanova Street, Tver, Tver Oblast, 170100, Russia.
You can also send emails via ZT (for payment with Russian bank cards).
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the recipient.
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
