Saratov Region
Persecution Sinks to a New Level: Feliks Makhammadiyev Became the First of Jehovah's Witnesses Forced to Stateless-Person Status
On May 8, 2020, it was learned that Russian citizenship of Saratov resident Feliks Makhammadiyev, who had suffered a brutal beating in a colony of Orenburg, was annulled after his 18 years of living legally in this country. In fact, Russia violates his fundamental right to citizenship, which is entrenched in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
13 May 2020
Three Months Passed After the Beating of Five Believers in the Orenburg Colony. What Is Happening to Them Now?
According to data on May 4, 2020, Feliks Makhammadiyev, who had a damaged lung, is recovering in the prison hospital; the threat to life has passed. Believers Budenchuk, Miretskiy, Gridasov and German also report feeling better. They are forced to work ten hours a day.
4 May 2020
In the ’90’s, Rustam Siedkuliev went to jail for refusing to take up arms. Now he faces persecution as an extremist for the same beliefs. Read Rustam’s biography
3 April 2020
European Union Calls on Russian Authorities to Stop Ill-Treatment of Jehovah's Witnesses
A joint statement of the 27 European states-members of the European Union (EU) was circulated on March 12, 2020, in Vienna at a meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The statement was joined by another six non-EU countries.
17 March 2020
Feliks Makhammadiev beaten by prison guards in Orenburg is recovering. The drainage chest tube was removed
20 February 2020
You may send letters of support (but not parcels) to Bazhenov, Budenchuk, Miretskiy, German, Gridasov, and Makhammadiyev in the prison
13 February 2020
Saratov Regional Court Fails to Change the Sentence of Six Jehovah's Witnesses. For Faith, They Will Be Sent to a Colony for Periods of Two to Three-and-a-Half Years
On December 20, 2019, an appeal hearing was held on the complaint against the verdict regarding the Saratov Witnesses Konstantin Bazhenov, Aleksey Budenchuk, Feliks Makhammadiyev, Aleksey Miretskiy, Roman Gridasov, and Gennadiy German. The cruel sentence of a lower court remained in force.
20 December 2019
In Saratov, Six Peaceful Witnesses Were Sentenced to a Colony Only for Their Faith in Jehovah God. Appeal Scheduled for December 20 in the Regional Court
On December 20, 2019, at 10 a.m., the Saratov Regional Court will consider the appeal of the verdict against six local residents sentenced to various terms of imprisonment for faith. Court address: Saratov, Michurina, 85.
19 December 2019
150 people came to the Saratov Regional Court to appeal in the case of six believers, but the hearing was postponed until December 20
12 December 2019
From 2 to 3.5 Уears in Prison for Faith. Real Jail Term Sentences in Saratov for Jehovah's Witnesses
On September 19, 2019, the judge of the Leninskiy District Court of Saratov, Dmitriy Larin, sentenced six city residents to various terms of imprisonment on the basis of their religion. Such a harsh sentence for believing in Jehovah became the second such instance in the history of modern Russia.
19 September 2019