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Yuri Yakovlev
Biography
In March 2022, Russia’s Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against Yury Yakovlev, a resident of Sosnovoborsk (Krasnoyarsk Krai). The following day, his home was searched, and he was placed in a pre-trial detention center on charges of participating in the activities of an extremist organisation due to his alleged involvement with the Jehovah’s Witnesses community. Members of this community are prosecuted under anti-extremism laws solely for their religious activities — holding meetings, conducting worship services, and attracting new members. In June 2022, the case went to court. In March 2023, the believer was sentenced to six years and two months
In March 2022, Russia’s Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against Yury Yakovlev, a resident of Sosnovoborsk (Krasnoyarsk Krai). The following day, his home was searched, and he was placed in a pre-trial detention center on charges of participating in the activities of an extremist organisation due to his alleged involvement with the Jehovah’s Witnesses community. Members of this community are prosecuted under anti-extremism laws solely for their religious activities — holding meetings, conducting worship services, and attracting new members. In June 2022, the case went to court. In March 2023, the believer was sentenced to six years and two months in prison, and on May 21, 2024, the Court of Appeal upheld the sentence.