Jehovah's Witness* from Krasnodar recognized as political prisoner

Human rights defenders have declared Alexei Lelikov, a Jehovah's Witness* from Krasnodar, who was sentenced to six years and five months, to be a political prisoner. They treat the charges brought against him as discriminatory. On February 4, a court in Krasnodar sentenced Lelikov to six years and five months in colony.

A criminal case against Alexei Lelikov, a piano teacher, was opened in January 2022 under the article on organizing the activities of an extremist organization. His house was searched. According to the prosecution, Lelikov, "while anticipating the onset of socially dangerous consequences in the form of harm to the foundations of the constitutional order ... took active steps ... expressed in convening and holding in the territory of the city of Krasnodar ... of meetings through information and telecommunications networks, organizing religious speeches and services, studying religious literature," the human rights project "Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial"** has informed.

It is noted that the criminal prosecution has negatively affected Alexei's health, who in April 2022, received Category II disability.

Lelikov has stated that he suffers "for his faith in God, the Creator of everything, my Friend, whose name is Jehovah."

*All the 396 Russian organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses were recognized as extremist, and their activities in Russia were banned by court decision.

**Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.