Murtuzov Zaur

Name: Murtuzov Zaur Borisovich
Date of Birth: January 22, 1977
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1.1), 282.2 (2)
Time spent in prison: 2 day in a temporary detention facility, 672 day in a pre-trial detention
Current restrictions: detention center
Sentence: a sentence of 5 years' imprisonment to be served in a general regime penal colony, with a 5-year ban on engaging in activities related to participating in the work of public and religious organizations, and a 2-year restriction of freedom
Currently held in: Detention Center No.2 for Moscow

Murtuzov Zaur Borisovich, born 1977, Detention Center No.2 for Moscow, Ul. Novoslobodskaya, 45, Moscow, 127055

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Note: discussing topics related to criminal prosecution is not allowed in letters; languages other than Russian will not pass.

Biography

In December 2024, law enforcement officers carried out searches of the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses in 8 locations in Moscow and the Moscow Region, including the home of Zaur Murtuzov. He was detained and placed in a pretrial detention center, and in the summer of 2026 the court sentenced the believer to 5 years in a penal colony.

Zaur was born in 1977 in Baku (Azerbaijan). His father worked as a builder and his mother as an engineer. As a child, Zaur was fond of photography, played chess, and boxed in the "Dynamo" sports society.

Later, Zaur became interested in physics and mathematics, and after the 9th grade he went to study at the Physics and Mathematics Lyceum. Then he entered the Bauman Moscow State Technical University. While studying at the university, Zaur graduated from a music school as an external student, majoring in guitar. Before the criminal prosecution, he worked in the field of warehouse logistics, as well as remotely.

Zaur likes to devote his free time to his nephews and organize their leisure time while his parents are at work. He also loves to play the guitar and sing.

Violence by law enforcement officers

Case History

In December 2024, homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses were searched in Moscow and Lyubertsy near Moscow. The day before, a criminal case was initiated against Oksana Ivanova, Larisa Kislaya, Liliana Korol, Darya Petrochenko and Zaur Murtuzov. The reason was conversations about the Bible with Olga Grigoriyeva, who feigned an interest. The believers were charged with participating in the activity of an extremist organization and involving others in it. Later, Murtuzov, Korol and Petrochenko were sent to a pretrial detention center, and Kislaya and Ivanova were placed under house arrest. In May 2025, Tatyana Levitskaya’s house was searched. She was placed under house arrest. In October, Korol was also transferred to house arrest. The case went to court in December. In August 2026, the verdict was announced — 5 years in a penal colony and 2 years restriction of freedom for Murtuzov and Petrochenko; 4 years of forced labor and 2 years restriction of freedom for Ivanova, Kislaya, and Korol; and 3 years and 8 months of forced labor and 6 months restriction of freedom for Levitskaya.
Timeline
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