Kovrov Court Fines Mikhail Sveshnikov Quarter of Million Rubles for Christian Activity

On March 26, 2025, Natalya Novikova, judge of the Kovrov City Court of the Vladimir Region, found Mikhail Sveshnikov, father of many children, 54, guilty of participating in the activities of an extremist organization. He was fined 250 thousand rubles with installments for 25 months.

The persecution of Sveshnikov began at the end of August 2023, when two law enforcement officers detained him near his home. This is how the believer learned that the Kovrov department of the Investigative Committee had opened a criminal case against him. His house was searched, and the believer himself was sent for interrogation, after which he was escorted to a temporary detention center. Mikhail spent almost four months under house arrest, and later his restriction measure was changed to a ban on certain actions. In July 2024, after 11 months of investigation, the case went to court.

Speaking in court with his final statement, the believer said: "I am sure that my beliefs cannot harm anyone. If the 'extremism' that is attributed to me is real, then it would be logical to expect that in 14 years of my service to God there should be real victims. And if this is not the case, then this 'extremism' is simply invented."

"The prosecution, with the aim of discrediting my reputation, used a certain template against me, which is often heard in the media," he added.

The sentence has not entered into force. The believer can appeal this decision to higher instances.

Law enforcement agencies of the Vladimir region continue to persecute Jehovah's Witnesses.