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 Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) solely due to his affiliation with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Human rights defenders emphasize that the persecution of Artem Heraskimov is solely related to freedom of religion, not any violent or unlawful actions.

Sentence: On March 5, 2020, the Russia-controlled Yalta City Court fined Artem Heraskimov 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 in the courtroom immediately after the verdict was announced. In July 2026, Artem Heraskimov was released after serving the full six-year sentence in Correctional Colony No. 12 in Rostov Oblast, Russia.

Artem Vyacheslavovich Heraskimov was born on January 13, 1985. He is a Ukrainian citizen, resident of Yalta, and a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses religious organization. Before his persecution, he worked as a pastry chef and enjoyed sports, table tennis, volleyball, and tourism. After the occupation of Crimea, he continued living in Yalta. He loved traveling around Crimea, hiking, and actively participated in volleyball. His religious activities were solely peaceful, involving the practice 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 Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“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 under the legislation of the Russian Federation”) with a term of 6 years. However, his lawyer claims there was no evidence of extremist activity. Artem was held in Correctional Colony No. 12, Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Rostov Oblast, Russia, and since February 28, 2023, he has been in Correctional Colony No. 10 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia.

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

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

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

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

Heraskimov is currently in Correctional Colony No. 12 in Rostov Oblast.

In 2020, Human Rights Watch, USCIRF, the Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, ZMINA, CrimeaSOS, and other organizations condemned the sentence against Artem Heraskimov, 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 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, the Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Human Rights Watch, Center for Civil Liberties.

Photo: USCIRF.

Date of update: 01.08.2026.