Additional Name(s): Sergey Vasiliyevich Korolev, Королёв Сергей Васильевич

Gender: Male

Current Location: SIZO No. 1, Astrakhan

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: November/9/2021

Date of Sentencing: April/17/2023

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Religious Activity Religious Belief Singing, Playing, & Producing Religious Songs & Music

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism Illicit Financing

Sergey Korolev

Extra Bio Info:

Sergey Korolev is imprisoned for his religious activity and belief.

On November 9, 2021, authorities detained several individuals, including Korolev, following raids on the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses in Akhtubinsk and Znamensk. They were accused of “organiz[ing] meetings... including using videoconferencing...namely, in the form of a collective religious service, consisting of public playback of audio recordings and video recordings... successively performing songs from a special collection of the religious teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses and prayers to the god Jehovah.”

On April 17, 2023, the Akhtubinskiy District Court sentenced Korolev to seven years in prison for “organizing the activities of a public or religious association or other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-1 RCC) and “collecting funds…intended to finance the organization, preparation and commission of at least one of the crimes of an extremist orientation, or to ensure the activities of an extremist community or an extremist organization” (Art. 282.3-1 RCC).

On August 31, 2023, the Astrakhan Regional Court upheld Korolev's sentence.

On March 19, 2024, the Fourth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Krasnodar upheld Korolev's sentence.

Korolev is married.

Related Cases: Rinat Kiramov, Sergey Kosyanenko

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