Arsen Avanesov

Resident of Rostov-on-Don. On May 22, 2019, was detained after a search, and on May 26 taken into custody on the charges of organizing and financing the activities of an extremist organization due to his involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Members of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, and proselytizing. On July 29, 2021 Avanesov was sentenced to six and a half years in a general regime penal colony with the court dropping the financing charges. On June 23, 2022, the court of cassation decided to return the case to the court of appeal, satisfying the prosecutor's submission, who considered the decision to drop the financing charge to be erroneous. On August 8, the court of appeals increased his sentence to seven years. On October 9, 2024, Avanesov was released from prison.