Jehovah’s Witnesses

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Served Sentences

Roman Mareyev Released After 3 Years in Pretrial Detention

October 29, 2024 Moscow

Inside Penal Colonies and Detention Centers

Andrey Vlasov Remains in Penal Colony Despite his Progressive Serious Illness. Why?

October 15, 2024 Kemerovo Region

Served Sentences

Arsen Avanesov From Rostov Was Released From the Penal Colony, Having Completely Served the Term for His Faith in Jehovah God

October 10, 2024 Rostov Region

Unjust Verdicts

Instead of a Suspended Sentence – 6 Years in a Penal Colony: Court of Appeal in Crimea Toughened 'Too Lenient' Sentence for Two Jehovah's Witnesses

October 7, 2024 Crimea

Unjust Verdicts

For His Love of the Bible, One of Jehovah's Witnesses From Barnaul Will Serve Forced Labor. The Court Considered Peaceful Religious Services to Be Extremism

Unjust Verdicts

Roman Gumenyuk, Son of One of Jehovah's Witness Convicted in Soviet Times and Rehabilitated, Received Five-Year Suspended Sentence for His Faith. Believer Does Not Admit Guilt

Unjust Verdicts

Appeal Upholds Sentence for Faith Against Anatoliy Isakov, Cancer Patient. He Will Pay a Fine of 400 thousand Rubles

Biography

Aleksandr Lubin Died Elderly Man With Disability Has Gone Through Pre-trial Detention Center, Investigation and Court in Three Years

Unjust Verdicts

Appeal Upheld Suspended Sentence for Teacher from Tolyatti for Reading Bible

Criminal trial

Reconsideration — Court of Cassation Overturns Verdict Against Chechulin Couple from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky for Their Faith

Unjust Verdicts

Court in Izhevsk Gave Two Men Long Suspended Sentences for Practicing The Religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

Handcuffs, Insults, and Intimidation. Home of a Large Family of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kazan Was Searched

Unjust Verdicts

Thirteen Believers, Men and Women, Will Serve Suspended Sentences. Court of Appeal Upheld the Decision of the Magadan Court

Unjust Verdicts

Forced Labor for Faith in Jehovah God. Court of Appeal in Oryol Upheld the Verdict Against Dmitriy Ignatov

Unjust Verdicts

Aleksey Khabarov from Porkhov will Remain Behind Bars. Court of Cassation Did Not Defend Religious Freedom

Unjust Verdicts

Court of Cassation Upheld the Verdict Against Sergey Gromov

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

In Kerch Homes of Jehovah's Witnesses Were Searched. A New Criminal Case for Faith Was Initiated

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

After Jehovah's Witnesses in Novocherkassk Were Sentenced, Security Forces Inspected the Home of Yet Another Believer

Unjust Verdicts

Court of Appeal in Khabarovsk Commuted the Most Severe Verdict to Date Against Jehovah's Witnesses. Three Men Have Been Released and Will Serve Suspended Sentences

Unjust Verdicts

Another Victim of Persecution of Disabled Believers: Court Declared Seriously Ill Pensioner Aleksandr Lubin as Extremist

Unjust Verdicts

Term in a Penal Colony for Their Faith: Court of Appeal in the Primorye Territory Upheld the Verdict Against Three Jehovah's Witnesses. One of Them is a 72-year-old Believer with a Serious Illness

Unjust Verdicts

Court of Appeal in Moscow Toughens the Punishment for One of Jehovah's Witnesses. The Terms for Two Other Believers Remain Unchanged

Unjust Verdicts

In Udmurtia, The Verdict Against of Three Jehovah's Witnesses from Izhevsk Has Entered Into Force: Believers Will Be Sent to Penal Colony Following Court of Appeal's Decision

Legal Victories

Court of Cassation Upheld the Aquittal of Kirill Gushchin — Prosecutor's Office Has Already Made an Official Apology to the Believer

Unjust Verdicts

Court of Appeal in Samara Upheld the Guilty Verdict Against Aleksandr Dolganov — 3 Years in a Penal Colony for his Faith in Jehovah God

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

Details of Raid Against Jehovah's Witnesses in Samara: Law Enforcement Officers Used Force Against One Believer

Unjust Verdicts

Court of Appeal Did Not Change the Verdict Against Three Believers from Novocherkassk, Including a 68-year-old Woman. Two Men Will Remain Behind Bars

November 20, 2024

Unjust Verdicts

For His Love of the Bible, One of Jehovah's Witnesses From Barnaul Will Serve Forced Labor. The Court Considered Peaceful Religious Services to Be Extremism

November 20, 2024

Unjust Verdicts

Roman Gumenyuk, Son of One of Jehovah's Witness Convicted in Soviet Times and Rehabilitated, Received Five-Year Suspended Sentence for His Faith. Believer Does Not Admit Guilt

November 18, 2024

Unjust Verdicts

Appeal Upholds Sentence for Faith Against Anatoliy Isakov, Cancer Patient. He Will Pay a Fine of 400 thousand Rubles

November 13, 2024

Biography

Aleksandr Lubin Died Elderly Man With Disability Has Gone Through Pre-trial Detention Center, Investigation and Court in Three Years

November 4, 2024

Unjust Verdicts

Appeal Upheld Suspended Sentence for Teacher from Tolyatti for Reading Bible

October 31, 2024

Criminal trial

Reconsideration — Court of Cassation Overturns Verdict Against Chechulin Couple from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky for Their Faith

October 29, 2024

Served Sentences

Roman Mareyev Released After 3 Years in Pretrial Detention

October 28, 2024

Unjust Verdicts

Court in Izhevsk Gave Two Men Long Suspended Sentences for Practicing The Religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses

October 22, 2024

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

Handcuffs, Insults, and Intimidation. Home of a Large Family of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kazan Was Searched

October 16, 2024

Unjust Verdicts

Thirteen Believers, Men and Women, Will Serve Suspended Sentences. Court of Appeal Upheld the Decision of the Magadan Court

Show moreAll news

Closing arguments for the defense

Case of Polyakevich and Skutelets in Pechora

The defense is being debated. Shchannikov, Anufriev, Merinkov and Polyakevich make their final statements.

Final statement

Case of Manuilov in Barnaul

"Seeing how the Bible has positively influenced many people, I also decided to read the Bible and apply its advice. And for this I am considered an extremist," Vitaly Manuilov makes his final speech.

Life in prison

The Case of Mareyev and Others in Moscow

Anatoliy is in penal colony No. 3 in the Tambov region. Here he will serve the main term of his sentence.

Prosecutor requested punishment

The case of Kupriyanskiy and others in Kursk

The prosecutor requests a imprisonment for the believers: Nikolay Kupriyansky - 7 years, Dmitry and Oksana Chausov - 3 years in a general regime colony.

Life in prison

The Case of Virich in Luchegorsk

November 1. The believer is in quarantine for the first week of his stay in the colony. Then, almost immediately, he is sent to a punishment cell, where he spends about 20 days. Because of this, he gets a short…

Life in prison

The Case of Mareyev and Others in Moscow

Anatoly Marunov is in colony No. 1 in the Tambov region. He can receive letters.

Court of Appeal

The Case of Martynov and Others in Irkutsk

Appeal hearing on believers' complaints against the verdict of the first instance. The defense draws attention to the clarification of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation that it…

Life in prison

The Case of Aliyev and Others in Birobidzhan

Valeriy Krieger, Dmitriy Zagulin and Sergei Shulyarenko are being held in barracks with other prisoners. Believers have respectful relations with them. Valeriy is unable to work due to the lack of a…

Medical treatment within the Federal Penitentiary Service

The case of Baylo in Kholmskaya

Valery Bailo is transferred to a medical institution - medical unit No. 23 in the village of Tlyustenkhabl (Republic of Adygea). The believer will not be able to receive letters in this institution…

Life in prison

The Case of Stashevskiy in Sevastopol

Victor is kept alone in a double cell. He needs dental treatment. The prison administration and inmates treat him with respect. The believer is strengthened by regular letters of support and reading…

Court of Cassation

Case of Dubovenko and Litvinyuk in Armyansk

November 7. The Fourth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Krasnodar upholds the decision of the Court of Appeal. Dubovenko and Litvinyuk remain in the penal colony.

Life in prison

The case of Filatov in Krasnoyarsk

During his stay in the colony, Aleksandr Filatov has earned a reputation as a conscientious worker, he is treated with respect. There are about 80 people in his squad. The believer tries not to lose…

Life in prison

Case of Dubovenko and Litvinyuk in Armyansk

Aleksandr Dubovenko works. Although he misses home, he tries not to lose heart. He is supported by reading letters and the Bible.

Final statement

Case of Gumenyuk in Korsakov

Roman Humeniuk makes his last speech in court.

Prohibition of certain actions

The case of Bashabayev and Others in Saratov

The court releases Anton Bashabaev, Aleksey Vasilyev and Aleksey Yefremov from house arrest and changes their measure of restraint to a ban on certain actions. Sergey Baghiyan is still under house…

Life in prison

The Case of Korolev and Others in Akhtubinsk

Sergey Kosyanenko misses his family. Since he is located 1300 km from home, it is difficult for his relatives to visit him often. The believer works and actively participates in events organized by…

Life in prison

The Case of Yeritsyan and Others in Novocherkassk

According to updated information, Garegin Khachaturyan is in correctional colony No. 8 in Astrakhan. He can receive letters.

Case returned to prosecutor

Case of Muravyov in Saint Petersburg

October 28. The judge returns the case of Igor Muravyov to the prosecutor.

Hearing in a court of the first instance

The case of Ogoreva in Mednogorskiy

During the preliminary hearing, Judge Galina Yevsegneeva recused herself.

Hearing in a court of the first instance

Case of Manuilov in Barnaul

Vitaliy Manuilov testifies in court and emphasizes that Jehovah's Witnesses have a legal right to worship together and to profess their faith. According to Vitaliy, the prosecution's actions demand…

Court of Cassation

The Case of Chagan in Tolyatti

The Sixth Court of Cassation in Samara upholds the guilty verdict previously passed on Alexander Chagan. The court does not take into account the arguments of the defense that "the actions of the…

Life in prison

The Case of Mareyev and Others in Moscow

Anatoly Marunov is in the process of transferring.

Case went to court

The case of Ogoreva in Mednogorskiy

It turns out that the case of Svetlana Ogoreva has again been submitted to court.

Case went to court

The case of Plotnikov and Others in Yoshkar-Ola

October 28. The case against 10 believers is sent to the Yoshkar-Ola City Court of the Republic of Mari El. It will be considered by judge Andrei Nebogatikov.

The unjust criminal prosecution creates many difficulties for believers, which for most remain "behind the scenes." Often, difficulties begin even before sentencing and continue after the sentence has been served. This article explains what is meant by the restrictions most often applied to believers. Read more
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 November 15, 2024

Calendar of upcoming events

2024

Nov

21

Court of Cassation

Case of Chaykovsky and others in Moscow

Prosecutor requested punishment

Case of Sakun in Kovrov

Closing arguments for the defense

The case of Kupriyanskiy and others in Kursk

Court of Appeal

The Case of Martynov and Others in Irkutsk

22

Court of Appeal

The Case of Martynov and Others in Irkutsk

25

First Instance Sentence

The case of Kozhushko and Others in Lesnoy

27

Final statement

Case of Polyakevich and Skutelets in Pechora

28

Prosecutor requested punishment

Lelikov's case in Krasnodar

Dec

03

Final statement

The case of Golik and Others in Blagoveshchensk

05

Court of Cassation

Case of Zhukov and Others in Sevastopol

09

Court of Appeal

Case of Loginov and Others in Surgut

12

Closing arguments for the defense

The case of Kabanov in Zelenogorsk

November 13, 2024

Zhanna Zhavoronkova

November 7, 2024

Nizhegorod Region

Yekaterina Olshevskaya

November 5, 2024

Nikolay Kononenko

November 1, 2024

Khabarovsk Territory

Lubov Serebryakova

October 31, 2024

Kemerovo Region

Dmitriy Zakharevich

October 30, 2024

October 29, 2024

Karachay-Cherkessia

Aleksandr Protasov

October 29, 2024

October 24, 2024

Aleksey Shcherbich

October 10, 2024

Stavropol Territory

October 8, 2024

Yuliya Pasynkova

October 4, 2024

Karachay-Cherkessia

Tatyana Pasynkova

October 4, 2024

Karachay-Cherkessia

Yevgeniy Semenov

October 3, 2024

Karachay-Cherkessia

Anatoliy Yevtushenko

September 12, 2024

Krasnodar Territory

Natalya Novoseletskaya

September 10, 2024

Krasnodar Territory

Aleksandr Davydenko

September 10, 2024

Krasnodar Territory

Valeriy Knyazev

September 9, 2024

Aleksandr Stefanidin

September 5, 2024

Valeriy Tolmazov

September 4, 2024

Maksim Barbazyuk

September 3, 2024

September 2, 2024

Krasnodar Territory

Nikolay Kupriyanskiy

September 2, 2024

Tamara Brattseva

August 30, 2024

Vladimir Lepskiy

August 27, 2024

Krasnodar Territory

August 19, 2024

Chukotka Autonomous Area

Aleksandr Kostyuk

August 16, 2024

Anastasiya Gaytur

August 5, 2024

Vitaliy Manuylov

July 30, 2024

Altai Territory

Irina Kamshilova

July 26, 2024

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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