Yeritsyan Gevorg

Name: Yeritsyan Gevorg Levanovich
Date of Birth: April 11, 1987
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)
Time spent in prison: 778 day in a pre-trial detention, 56 day in prison
Current restrictions: detention center
Sentence: 6 years and 2 months of imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, with deprivation of the right to engage in organizational activities in public and religious associations and organizations, for a period of 5 years, with restriction of liberty for a period of 1 year

Biography

Gevorg Yeritsyan is a law-abiding citizen, the father of two minor children, who, after searches in Novocherkassk in the summer of 2022, was detained and sent to a pre-trial detention center only because of his faith in Jehovah God.

Gevorg was born in April 1987 in Novocherkassk (Rostov region). He has a brother who is 2 years younger than him. Their father is a teacher at a boarding school, and their mother is a math teacher.

In his youth, Gevorg was professionally involved in sports, won the title of master of sports in judo. After school, he graduated from the Polytechnic University, where he received a degree in mining engineering. Then he worked for the police for a while. Over time, Gevorg decided to leave the service and, together with his brother, organized a small family business - a cafe.

Gevorg's mother began to read the Bible in the early 1990s and eventually decided to take the Christian path. Gevorg also decided to follow her example, but later - in 2013. While studying the Bible, he switched careers and left the martial arts, continuing to maintain his fitness through home workouts.

In 2010, Gevorg married Melina, two children were born in the marriage. Gevorg's wife respects his beliefs, although she does not share them. Spouses love to spend time together and communicate with friends. Gevorg is known as a hospitable person, ready to provide any assistance to those who need it.

Due to criminal prosecution, relatives have lost the opportunity to see Gevorg, which undoubtedly upsets family and friends. They care about him and support him in every possible way.

Case History

One early August morning of 2022, searches were carried out at the homes of local Jehovah’s Witnesses in Novocherkassk and the village of Grushevskaya. Half an hour before the searches, the Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case against Gevorg Yeritsyan, Garegin Khachaturyan and Lyubov Galitsyna on charges for extremism. The men were interrogated and placed in a pretrial detention center. A few days later, Lyubov also ended up behind bars. She spent more than a year in a pretrial detention center, after which she was placed under house arrest. Hearings in the case began in September 2023. In June 2024, the court sentenced Lyubov Galitsyna to 2 years and 3 months, Gevorg Yeritsyan to 6 years and 2 months, and Garegin Khachaturyan to 6.5 years imprisonment for their religion. The court considered the term imposed on Galitsyna as already served. Three months later, the court of appeal upheld the verdict.
Timeline
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