Jehovah’s Witnesses

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Unjust Verdicts

A Court in Primorye Territory Sent One of Jehovah's Witnesses Anton Virich to a Penal Colony for Six Years

April 25, 2024 Primorye Territory

Unjust Verdicts

In Tolyatti, Court Found Aleksandr Dolganov Guilty of Extremism.

April 9, 2024 Samara Region

Unjust Verdicts

Appeal in Tatarstan Upheld the Sentence of Aleksey Gerasimov From Kazan - 6 Years in Prison

March 26, 2024 Tatarstan

Unjust Verdicts

Court in Maykop Sentenced Inver Siyukhov to Six Years in Prison for Talking About Jehovah God

March 11, 2024 Adygea

Unjust Verdicts

A court in Tolyatti Sent Aleksandr Chagan to a Penal Colony for Eight Years for Believing in Jehovah God

March 1, 2024 Samara Region

Unjust Verdicts

Nine of Jehovah's Witnesses from Irkutsk Received 3 to 7 Years of Imprisonment for Their Faith

March 5, 2024 Irkutsk Region

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

One of Jehovah's Witnesses Was Detained in Moscow and Taken to Saratov. Three Days Later, He Was Placed Under House Arrest

Unjust Verdicts

In Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, a Court Gave a Married Couple of Jehovah's Witnesses a 2-year Suspended Sentence for Their Faith

Unjust Verdicts

One of Jehovah's Witnesses Maksim Zinchenko Sentenced to 2 Years of Forced Labor in Crimea for Talking About the Bible

Unjust Verdicts

In Prokopyevsk, Yelena Chernykh, One of Jehovah's Witnesses, Was Given a 3-year Suspended Sentence for Her Faith. Earlier, the Same Court Had Convicted Her Husband

Unjust Verdicts

A Court of Appeal in Moscow Upheld the Verdict of Five Jehovah's Witnesses. Believers Were Sent to a Penal Colony for Terms of Four to Six Years

Unjust Verdicts

The Verdict Against Three Believers in Oryol Came Into Force After an Appeal. They Will Remain Behind Bars

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

A 66-year-old Jehovah's Witness, Valeriy Baylo, was Detained in the Krasnodar Territory. He is in a Pre-Trial Detention Center

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

Law Enforcement Officers Conducted Searches in the Homes of Jehovah's Witnesses in Petrozavodsk. One Believer Was Sent to a Detention Center

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

A New Search on Sakhalin. One of Jehovah's Witnesses Daler Tokhtayev Detained in Poronaysk

Unjust Verdicts

The Sentence of Sona Olopova from Tolyatti Entered Into Force After an Appeal — Two Years of Forced Labor for Believing in Jehovah God

Unjust Verdicts

In Goryachy Klyuch, the Court Gave Pavel Sidorenko a 3-Year Suspended Sentence for Talking About the Bible. This is Already the 18th Jehovah's Witness Convicted for his Faith in the Krasnodar Territory

Unjust Verdicts

The Court of Cassation Upheld the Verdict of Three Jehovah's Witnesses from Taganrog. One of Them Has Been Persecuted for His Faith for Fifteen Years

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

In Cherkessk, a Criminal Case Opened Against the Disabled Vladimir Fomin. He Was Placed in a Pre-Trial Detention Center

Unjust Verdicts

Aliyev, Shulyarenko, Kriger and Zagulin will Remain in the Colony. The Court of Cassation Upheld the Harsh Sentence for Faith

Unjust Verdicts

Court in Votkinsk Fined Local Jehovah's Witnesses Sergey Gobozev and Mikhail Potapov Large Amounts

Unjust Verdicts

A Court in Tolyatti Sentenced Yelena Yurenkova to Two Years Suspended for Her Beliefs

Criminal trial

The Supreme Court in Crimea Overturned the Sentences of Four Jehovah's Witnesses. The Men Were Released From the Pre-trial Detention Center, but the Trial Will Start Over

Unjust Verdicts

The Court of Cassation Approved the Prison Terms for Believers from Zeya: 6.5 and 6 Years. Leonid Druzhinin and Yevgeniy Bitusov Will Continue to Serve Their Sentences in the Colony

Unjust Verdicts

The Court of Cassation Left in Force the Harsh Sentence for Faith of Three of Jehovah's Witnesses from Akhtubinsk. They Will Continue to Serve Their Sentences in the Colony

Unjust Verdicts

The Court in Chuvashia Announced the Verdict for Faith to One of the Oldest Prisoners of Conscience. Yuriy Yuskov was sentenced to 5 years suspended

Unjust Verdicts

Two Years Suspended Instead of Three Years of Forced Labor for Reading the Bible In Kemerovo, The Court of Appeal Changed the Sentence of a Pensioner

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

Mass searches and interrogations in Omsk. A Criminal Case for Faith Initiated, Two People Detained

Unjust Verdicts

In Magadan, The Court Sentenced 13 Jehovah's Witnesses to Suspended Sentences From 3 to 7 Years

April 25, 2024

Unjust Verdicts

A Court in Primorye Territory Sent One of Jehovah's Witnesses Anton Virich to a Penal Colony for Six Years

April 25, 2024

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

One of Jehovah's Witnesses Was Detained in Moscow and Taken to Saratov. Three Days Later, He Was Placed Under House Arrest

April 23, 2024

Unjust Verdicts

In Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, a Court Gave a Married Couple of Jehovah's Witnesses a 2-year Suspended Sentence for Their Faith

April 18, 2024

Unjust Verdicts

One of Jehovah's Witnesses Maksim Zinchenko Sentenced to 2 Years of Forced Labor in Crimea for Talking About the Bible

April 12, 2024

Unjust Verdicts

In Prokopyevsk, Yelena Chernykh, One of Jehovah's Witnesses, Was Given a 3-year Suspended Sentence for Her Faith. Earlier, the Same Court Had Convicted Her Husband

April 11, 2024

Unjust Verdicts

A Court of Appeal in Moscow Upheld the Verdict of Five Jehovah's Witnesses. Believers Were Sent to a Penal Colony for Terms of Four to Six Years

April 10, 2024

Unjust Verdicts

The Verdict Against Three Believers in Oryol Came Into Force After an Appeal. They Will Remain Behind Bars

April 9, 2024

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

A 66-year-old Jehovah's Witness, Valeriy Baylo, was Detained in the Krasnodar Territory. He is in a Pre-Trial Detention Center

April 9, 2024

Unjust Verdicts

In Tolyatti, Court Found Aleksandr Dolganov Guilty of Extremism.

April 9, 2024

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

Law Enforcement Officers Conducted Searches in the Homes of Jehovah's Witnesses in Petrozavodsk. One Believer Was Sent to a Detention Center

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Prosecutor requested punishment

The case of Ponomarenko and others in Luchegorsk

The prosecutor is requesting real terms for four believers: 2 years for Nikolai Dikhtyar, 2.5 years for Andrey Lyakhov, and 6 years for Yuriy Ponomarenko and Oleg Sergeyev.

Hearing in a court of the first instance

The case of Derendyaev and Others in Izhevsk

Alexander Kutin and Sergey Ashikhmin deliver their closing remarks. Kutin states: "My beliefs have always been exclusively peaceful, so there are no victims or victims in the case." Ashikhmin notes…

Art. 282.2 (1.1)

The case of Kalinnikova and Potapova in Kurilsk

April 12. Investigator Deshko expands the indictment against Olga Kalinnikova and Larisa Potapova. He charges them with involving a person in the activities of an extremist organization.

Hearing in a court of the first instance

Case of Virich in Luchegorsk

April 11. The prosecutor asks the court to appoint Virich 6.5 years in a general regime colony with restriction of liberty for 1 year. The court satisfies the petitions of the defense and attaches to the…

Detention center

Case of Timofeyev in Petrozavodsk

April 3. Investigator Petrov asks the Petrozavodsk City Court to choose a measure of restraint for Alexei Timofeev in the form of detention. Judge Ekaterina Kanaeva sends the believer to the pre-trial…

Life in prison

Case of Stashevskiy in Sevastopol

Viktor Stashevskiy is still in strict conditions of detention in Penal Colony No. 9 in the city of Khadyzhensk. Together with him, there are 21 more people in the room. The believer is allowed to walk…

Detention center

The case of Baylo in Kholmskaya

Valery Bailo is kept alone in a special unit - a basement, in which there are no windows and no button to call employees. It's damp there, the lights don't turn off around the clock. His friends gave…

Detention center

Davydenko's case in Pavlovskaya

Relatives learn that Aleksandr Davydenko is in pre-trial detention center No. 2 in the Krasnodar Territory in the city of Armavir. Upon arrival, he was quarantined for 10 days. There are 12 people in…

Life in prison

The case of Moiseyev and Others in Gukovo

Believers receive the necessary medicines. This allows them to maintain their health. Previously, they managed to undergo dental treatment. Oleg Shidlovsky's eyesight continues to deteriorate, he…

Final statement

The case of the Chechulins in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

Sergey and Elena Chechulin make their final statement.

Detention center

The Case of Dolganov in Tolyatti

Alexander Dolganov is in SIZO-4 in the city of Togliatti. He can receive letters of support.

Final statement

The Case of Zinchenko in Sevastopol

Maksym Zinchenko speaks with the last word: "Love for God and for my neighbors is the main motive of all my actions. And it has nothing to do with extremism."

Hearing in a court of the first instance

Case of Kasabov in Tambov

Witnesses are being questioned. One of them, an Orthodox priest, talks about the history and teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses. Other witnesses, colleagues of the accused, give him positive…

Life in prison

The case of Aliyev and Others in Birobidzhan

Alam Aliyev is placed in a punishment cell for the third time, now for 14 days. A long visit with his wife scheduled for April is canceled.

Prosecutor requested punishment

The case of Reshetnikov and Others in Barnaul

The prosecutor requests 4 years in a general regime colony for the defendants.

Case initiated

The case of Kalinnikova and Potapova in Kurilsk

Another criminal case is being opened against Potapova and Kalinnikova under Part 1.1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (involvement of a person in the activities of an…

Hearing in a court of the first instance

Lelikov's case in Krasnodar

The court attaches to the case file documents on the state of health of the defendant, as well as two characteristics of his personality.

Hearing in a court of the first instance

The case of Tutinova and Others in Elista

The prosecution is interrogating the brother of Ekaterina Menkova. He describes his sister as a kind, sympathetic and literate person who graduated from the institute with honors. The second witness…

Hearing in a court of the first instance

The case of Tutinova and Others in Elista

The evidence of the prosecution is being examined. The case materials from the first 10 volumes, including the conclusions of the examinations, are announced.

Life in prison

Case of Olshevskiy and others in Blagoveshchensk

Anton Olshevskiy is in strict conditions of detention (SUS). Prior to that, he spent six months in a chamber-type room (PCT). The believer is allowed to call his relatives 6 times a month, receive…

Art. 282.2 (1)

The case of Klokov and Manuylov in Barnaul

Investigator Yevgeny Kozuchenko reclassifies Klokov's charge from Part 2 to Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. In his opinion, the believer's guilt lies in the…

Prosecutor requested punishment

The case of the Chechulins in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

April 4. The prosecutor requests for Sergey and Elena Chechulin a sentence of 6 years in a general regime colony with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to participation in the work of…

Detention center

The case of Baylo in Kholmskaya

The Abinsk District Court detains the believer. Bailo is placed in pre-trial detention center No. 3 in the city of Novorossiysk.

Hearing in a court of the first instance

Case of Ignatov in Oryol

Three witnesses are being questioned. None of them knows Ignatov personally. One woman says that she did not hear any propaganda of exclusivity, calls for the breakdown of family relations and…

No. According to the Russian Government’s explanation, the Supreme Court banned the activities of legal entities that no longer exist, but not religion as such. Read more
The word “sect” has a narrow scientific and everyday meaning. None of them apply to Jehovah’s Witnesses. Why? Read more

Four facts that allow us to see the situation in a different light. Read more
Three reasons that formed the basis for all accusations of extremism. Read more
Evidence has accumulated that law enforcement officers and persons collaborating with them systematically plant printed publications at worship services. Why? Read more

Imprisoned for Their Faith

Statistics on the current situation in Russia on April 15, 2024

Calendar of upcoming events

2024

Apr

25

First Instance Sentence

Case of Virich in Luchegorsk

27

Hearing in a court of the first instance

The case of Derendyaev and Others in Izhevsk

New

Altai Territory: Manuylov Vitaliy Krasnodar Territory: Baylo Valeriy

April 25, 2024

Sakhalin Region

April 22, 2024

Chelyabinsk Region

Aleksey Kuznetsov

April 19, 2024

April 18, 2024

Krasnodar Territory

Aleksey Timofeyev

April 18, 2024

Yelena Chernykh

April 12, 2024

Kemerovo Region

Tsagan Khalgaeva

April 11, 2024

Екатерина Менькова

April 11, 2024

April 10, 2024

Krasnoyarsk Territory

April 8, 2024

Krasnoyarsk Territory

April 4, 2024

Karachay-Cherkessia

Aleksandr Dolganov

April 4, 2024

Samara Region

April 1, 2024

March 29, 2024

Vladlena Kukavitsa

March 25, 2024

Jewish Autonomous Area

Aleksandr Gaytur

March 21, 2024

Kurgan Region

Yelena Rumyantseva

March 20, 2024

Krasnodar Territory

Sergey Dvurechenskiy

March 19, 2024

Krasnodar Territory

Yelena Gadrshina

March 18, 2024

Krasnodar Territory

Svetlana Ogoreva

March 14, 2024

Karachay-Cherkessia

February 29, 2024

Krasnoyarsk Territory

Anton Bashabaev

January 8, 2024

Saratov Region

Aleksey Vasilyev

January 8, 2024

Saratov Region

Kirill Chekolaev

January 4, 2024

Primorye Territory

January 4, 2024

Altai Territory

Aleksey Yefremov

January 4, 2024

Saratov Region

Olga Kalinnikova

December 21, 2023

Sakhalin Region

Larisa Potapova

December 18, 2023

Sakhalin Region

December 13, 2023

Tambov Region

Yekaterina Demidova

December 11, 2023

4:01

In the Penal Colony, The Health of Andrey Vlasov From Prokopyevsk, Who is Disabled, is Deteriorating

Andrey Vlasov, 54, who is disabled, was sentenced to 7 years in a penal colony for his Christian beliefs. Due to a serious illness, he cannot manage without external help. The four-minute video tells what the believer has to face while waiting for the decision of the court of cassation. In May 2022, the Central District Court of Prokopyevsk found Andrey Vlasov guilty of organizing the activity of an extremist organisation and sentenced him to 7 years in a penal colony.

Jehovah’s Witnesses Under the Yoke of Repression — 2023 Overview

December 27, 2023

In the Penal Colony, The Health of Andrey Vlasov From Prokopyevsk, Who is Disabled, is Deteriorating

November 14, 2022

Arrested, Convicted, Served Time, Deported. What Is Occurring With Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia Based on Konstantin Bazhenov's Experience

February 4, 2022

The Brutal Attack by the Law Enforcers Did Not Break the Believers in Irkutsk

December 21, 2021

"After a Heart Attack, I Was Put Into a Cage in Handcuffs." The Story of the Persecution for Faith of Olga Opaleva and Her Son in Primorye

What Happened in Abakan? Details Around the Sentence that Sent a 70-Year-Old Woman and Her Son to Prison for Believing in Jehovah

70 years of Operation North - eyewitnesses and experts discuss the mass deportation of Jehovah's Witnesses in the USSR

Why are peace-loving individuals being framed as criminals? An engineer is being tried for his faith in the city of Krasnoyarsk

August 24, 2020

Kolyma 2.0. The Land of Trampled Freedom Once Again Becomes a Hotbed of Repression

The beating in the Orenburg colony did not break the believers and their families in Saratov

"I managed to tell my dad in his ear that I was proud of his resilience." The life of believers in Kaluga was divided into before and after

December 6, 2019

The Christensen case. A faith that is higher than prison walls

Ruthless Searches and Arrests of Believers in Kirov

January 11, 2019

Dzhankoy after the raid: how persecution cripples the lives of believers

December 27, 2018

Crimea: the rehabilitated is again subjected to repression (video)

November 19, 2018

How were believers in Russia turned into "extremists"?

Arrests of believers all over Russia

Results of the real estate court in Solnechnoye

Summary: What do they want to take away from Jehovah's Witnesses in Solnechnoye?

Seizure of foreign property by Russian authorities

A liturgical building that served for thousands of St. Petersburg believers was seized and sealed

December 14, 2017

Alexander Verkhovsky: "It would be better for the state not to embark on this slippery slope"

December 5, 2017

Evgenia Smagina: "Several alternative translations are an absolute blessing"

December 4, 2017

Nikolay Shaburov: "This is a translation of the Bible. Attempts to assert otherwise are simply ignorant."

December 2, 2017

Ekaterina Elbakyan: "By recognizing the translation as extremist, we recognize the text itself as extremist"

December 1, 2017

Andriy Desnitsky: "This is a matter for professionals and readers, not for the prosecutor's office and the court"

November 30, 2017

In the Stavropol region, a police raid on citizens during a picnic

August 30, 2017

Video: A wave of sectarian violence has swept the country

Video: Review of the trial to liquidate Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia

Jean-Marie Delarue: "In practice, this means that the fight is not against extremism, but against religion itself"

Mercedes Murillo Muñoz: "Our state has a lot of confidence in this religious group"

Consuelo Madrigal: "I don't consider Jehovah's Witnesses dangerous in any way"

Video: Jehovah's Witnesses in the Supreme Court. The first days of meetings

Richard Clayton: "A shocking example of how a bad law is being used for an even worse purpose"

Massimo Introvigne: "The only connection between Jehovah's Witnesses and violence is that they are victims of violence"

Heiner Bielefeldt: "If Jehovah's Witnesses are extremists, then we are all extremists"

Maksym Shevchenko: "This lawsuit violates the fundamental principles of freedom of conscience"

Annika Vitamar: "If Jehovah's Witnesses are extremists, then most versions of Christianity can be called the same"

Hubert Seiwert: "Prejudice against Jehovah's Witnesses is unfounded"

Vladimir Ryakhovsky: "It always started with Jehovah's Witnesses and then affected everyone"

Anatoly Pchelintsev: "Let's raise our voice in defense of Jehovah's Witnesses!"

Lyudmila Alekseeva: "Not just a mistake, but, I think, a crime"

Vasily Kalin's Urgent Video Message in Connection with the Lawsuit to Ban Jehovah's Witnesses

Video: An expert on extremism talks about his methods of work

The Ministry of Justice is launching a large-scale unscheduled inspection of the Jehovah's Witnesses Center. What does it mean?

February 23, 2017

Surveillance Cameras: Security Officers Plant Banned Books on Believers

September 30, 2016

A lawsuit to recognize the Bible as extremist. What do human rights activists say?

How law enforcers fabricate charges against Jehovah's Witnesses. Video footage from Sevastopol, Samara and Balakovo

February 15, 2016

Doctor of Medical Sciences on the benefits of surgery without blood transfusion

September 1, 2011

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