Volosnikov Sergey

Name: Volosnikov Sergey Vladimirovich
Date of Birth: November 7, 1977
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)
Current restrictions: suspended sentence
Sentence: Punishment in the form of 6 years 4 months of imprisonment, with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to leadership and participation in the work of public organizations for a period of 3 years, with restriction of liberty for a period of 1 year, punishment in the form of imprisonment shall be considered conditional with a probationary period of 3 years 6 months

Biography

On February 15, 2019, mass searches were carried out in the homes of believers in Surgut. This was followed by beatings and torture of at least 7 believers. Among others, the torture was reported by Sergei Volosnikov. What is known about him?

Sergey was born in 1977 in Magnitogorsk (Chelyabinsk region). The youngest of three children in the family. As a child, he was actively fond of sports, attended football, hockey and judo sections. When Sergey was 10 years old, his family moved to Surgut, where he still lives. He works as a driver and enjoys playing football and volleyball with friends on weekends. For more than a dozen years he has been trying to adhere to the commandments of the Bible in his life.

In 2004, Sergey married Svetlana, who works as a clerk at the university. The couple are raising their son George, they love to spend time in nature.

Sergey tries not to spread even among close relatives about the criminal case and torture, sparing their feelings. But those who are aware of what is happening are worried and try to understand why civilians are subjected to such atrocities.

Case History

In February 2019, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation initiated a criminal case against 18 men and 1 woman from Surgut (among them was a person mistaken for one of Jehovah’s Witnesses). Their homes were searched. During the interrogations, 7 believers were subjected to violence. Artur Severinchik was sent to a pretrial detention center for 29 days, while Yevgeniy Fedin and Sergey Loginov — for 56 days. Timofey Zhukov was unlawfully placed in a psychiatric hospital for 14 days. The believers filed complaints about the use of torture with the Investigative Committee, the ECHR and the Human Rights Ombudsman; a press conference was held with the participation of human rights activists, but none of the law enforcement officers was brought to justice. In October 2021, the case materials went to court. Two years later, the court gave all of the believers suspended sentences ranging from 4 to 7 years. In February 2025, the court of appeal upheld this decision.
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