Aleksei Ovchar

A Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky resident, he worked as a Chinese language teacher, translator, and manager in a trading company. In September 2022, a case was brought against him for organising activities of an extremist organisation due to his involvement in the activities of the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely because of their religious activities, such as holding meetings and worship services and attracting new supporters. On 25 December 2023 the investigation was suspended, but on 15 October 2024 it was resumed. The case went to trial. The prosecutor announced that Ovchar's guilt lay in his participation in 12 worship meetings. The defence stated that he had attended only one of these meetings. On 26 February 2025, Ovchar was sentenced to six years' probation.