Aleksandr Popov
Aleksandr Popov
On April 24, 2025, the Kovrov City Court of the Vladimir Region sentenced Aleksandr Popov, 37, - 250,000 rubles. Judge Mariya Maslova equated peacefully practicing his religion with participating in the activity of an extremist organization.
The court considered ordinary religious activities such as joint prayers and songs, as well as discussing the Bible with friends to be extremism. The believer declared his innocence: "I stand before you not for crimes. I did not commit any. Today I am in the dock for my faith in God and for the fact that I want to live the way Jesus Christ taught."
The criminal prosecution of Aleksandr Popov began in August 2023. Then his home and the home of his elderly parents were searched, and law enforcement officers also questioned his relatives. Aleksandr was interrogated and sent to a temporary detention facility, and later placed under house arrest. After four months, the believer was placed under a ban on certain actions. In July 2024, the case went to court. During the closing arguments, state prosecutor Maksim Vavilov requested a fine of 450,000 rubles for Popov.
It is worth mentioning that shortly before Popov's sentence, the Kovrov City Court fined two other Jehovah's Witnesses for their faith. Three other men were sentenced to imprisonment but have already served their sentences. Russian courts have again and again groundlessly declared peaceful religious activity as extremism. In his final statement, Aleksandr Popov said: "I would like to point out that in this criminal case there is only one victim — me. I have suffered physically, emotionally and materially.
