Detention: On March 20, 2019, Russian security forces searched his apartment, seizing electronic devices and religious literature. By March 26, 2019, a criminal case was initiated against him for 'organizing the activities of an extremist organization' (Part 1, Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code) solely due to his affiliation with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Human rights defenders emphasize that Artem Herassimov's persecution is solely related to freedom of religion, not any violent or illegal actions.

Sentence: On March 5, 2020, the Russia-controlled Yalta City Court fined Artem Herassimov 400,000 Russian rubles. However, on June 4, 2020, the so-called 'Supreme Court of the Republic of Crimea' overturned this decision and significantly increased the punishment to 6 years of imprisonment in a general regime colony. He was taken into custody immediately after the verdict was announced. International human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, recognized the sentence as a gross violation of the right to freedom of religion and called for Artem Herassimov's immediate release.

Artem Vyacheslavovich Herassimov was born on January 13, 1985, a Ukrainian citizen and resident of Yalta, a believer of the Jehovah's Witnesses religious organization. Before the persecution, he worked as a pastry chef, enjoyed sports, table tennis, volleyball, and tourism. After the occupation of Crimea, he remained in Yalta. He loved traveling around Crimea, hiking, and actively played volleyball. His religious activities were solely peaceful expressions of his faith and participation in Jehovah's Witnesses community services.

On March 20, 2019, Russian security forces searched his apartment, seizing electronic devices and religious literature. By March 26, 2019, he was imprisoned under Article 282.2 Part 1 of the Russian Criminal Code ('Organization of the activities of a public or religious association or other organization, in respect of which a court has adopted a decision on liquidation or prohibition of activities due to extremist activities, which has entered into legal force, except for organizations recognized as terrorist according to the legislation of the Russian Federation') with a term of 6 years. However, his lawyer claims there was no evidence of extremist activities. Artem was held in Correctional Colony No. 12, Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Rostov Region, Russia, and since February 28, 2023, he has been in Correctional Colony No. 10, Rostov-on-Don, Russia.

During the trial, the prosecution was based on a covert audio recording of religious gatherings, testimonies, and expert opinions, which, according to the Russian investigation, confirmed the continuation of Jehovah's Witnesses community activities after its ban in Russia. Meanwhile, the defense emphasized that Artem Herassimov did not incite violence, did not engage in any illegal activities, but only peacefully exercised his right to freedom of conscience and religion. Therefore, Ukrainian and international human rights organizations view his persecution as politically and religiously motivated.

On March 5, 2020, the Yalta City Court fined Herassimov 400,000 rubles.

On June 4, 2020, the Supreme Court of Crimea dismissed Herassimov's appeal and instead sentenced him again to six years of imprisonment. After the court hearing, Herassimov was taken into custody.

In October 2020, it was reported that Herassimov began showing symptoms of COVID-19, but no official diagnosis was made.

Herassimov is currently held in Correctional Colony No. 12 in Rostov Region.

In 2020, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, USCIRF, the Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, ZMINA, CrimeaSOS, and other organizations condemned Artem Herassimov's sentence, emphasizing that Russia unlawfully applies its criminal law in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea and systematically persecutes members of religious communities. They called Artem's case an example of a gross violation of freedom of religion and the right to a fair trial.

Information used from open sources: ZMINA, USCIRF (United States Commission on International Religious Freedom), CrimeaSOS, Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Center for Civil Liberties.

Photo: USCIRF.

Last updated: 09.07.2026.