S P E C I A L   R E P O R T

RUSSIA
STATE-SPONSORED
PERSECUTION OF
JEHOVAH’S
WITNESSES
CONTINUES
OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
WORLD HEADQUARTERS OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
1 KINGS DRIVE, TUXEDO PARK, NY 10987-5500
718 -560 -5000 [email protected]

F E B R UA RY 2 0 19
On Wednesday, February 6, 2019,
Dennis Christensen, a Danish citizen living
in Oryol, Russia, was sentenced to a
six-year prison term for practicing his faith.

“
The court ruling sets a dangerous precedent This certainly does not
for dozens of pending criminal cases involving mean that we should label
Jehovah’s Witnesses in approximately 30
regions of Russia. More than 40 of these cases
representatives of religious
involve persons who are currently in detention communities as members
or under house arrest. of destructive, much less
Another EU citizen—Andrzej Oniszczuk, a Polish terrorist, organizations. That is
citizen with a temporary residency permit—is complete nonsense; this needs

”
also in pretrial detention under charges of to be dealt with carefully...

“
‘financing and organizing extremist activity.’
Jehovah’s Witnesses are
Christians too, and I don’t
Will Russia implement President quite understand why they
Putin’s comments, or continue are persecuted either. So this
persecuting its own citizens for should be looked into; this

”
peaceful worship? must be done.

—President Vladimir Putin’s comments at a

meeting of the Council for Civil Society and
Since early 2018, authorities throughout Russia have
Human Rights, December 11, 2018.
been arresting and imprisoning Jehovah’s Witnesses
for practicing their faith—peacefully meeting together
for worship, reading the Bible, and talking to others S E PTE M B E R 2 017
TO JANUARY 2019
about their faith.
Police, OMON forces, and Federal Security Service
(FSB) agents continue raiding private homes, using
heavy-handed tactics against the Witnesses as 23 Witnesses jailed
though they were dealing with hardened criminals.
The authorities point guns in the face of Witnesses—
including children and the elderly—and manhandle
27 under house arrest
them, causing emotional distress and physical harm.
41 ordered not to leave
their hometown
“There is a clear contradiction between the
stated position of the government of the Russian
Federation and law enforcement practice. This
121 Witnesses under
is a cause for concern, as criminal prosecutions investigation
and arrests have become endemic.” –Statement
from Russia’s Human Rights Council to the 300 home raids/searches
Prosecutor General’s Office, June 20, 2018
DENNIS CHRISTENSEN
Sentenced to a six-year prison
term for practicing his faith

Dennis Christensen, a 46-year-old Danish citizen, was sentenced to

six years’ imprisonment in Russia for practicing his faith as one of
Jehovah’s Witnesses. On February 6, 2019, Judge Aleksey Rudnev
of the Zheleznodorozhniy District Court of Oryol read the verdict
convicting Mr. Christensen on the false charge of ‘organizing extremist
activity,’ under Article 282.2 (1) of the Criminal Code of the Russian
Federation (RF Criminal Code).

The decision has not entered into force. His attorneys believe that the
verdict is unjust and will be appealing the decision. Mr. Christensen will
remain in Detention Facility #1 in the Oryol Region.

Mr. Christensen was arrested on May 25, 2017, when heavily armed
police and FSB agents raided a peaceful religious meeting in Oryol
that he was attending. Since then, he has spent 622 days in pretrial
detention and has appeared in over 50 court sessions since his trial
began in February 2018. 3

Synopsis of the Case

Basis of the case. The case is based on court decisions that declared
the Local Religious Organization (LRO) of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Oryol
“extremist” (2016) and on the decision of the Supreme Court of the
Russian Federation to liquidate the Witnesses’ national headquarters and
all of their legal entities in Russia (April 20, 2017; upheld July 17, 2017).

Position of the prosecution. As initiated by the FSB, the prosecution

claimed that Mr. Christensen was in charge of the Oryol LRO and Police raid of religious service where
continued to organize its activity after it was liquidated. To substantiate Mr. Christensen was arrested
their claim, the FSB collected “evidence” against Mr. Christensen—he
opened the gate to the local Kingdom Hall, removed snow from the
premises, and greeted and ushered fellow believers into the hall for
worship. The FSB could not produce any victims who were allegedly
victimized by Mr. Christensen’s religious activity.

Position of the defense. Mr. Christensen’s attorneys sought a full

acquittal. Holding peaceful religious meetings is not a criminal offense.
Although the Witnesses’ legal entities have been liquidated throughout
the country, Russian officials have maintained that this does not revoke
the Witnesses’ individual right to religious freedom, which is guaranteed
by the Russian Constitution. Additionally, Mr. Christensen was never in
Dennis Christensen testifying in court
charge of the Oryol LRO or even a member of it.
 Christensen v. Russia filed with the European Court of Human
Rights (ECHR). In June 2017, the Witnesses filed an application with
the ECHR concerning Mr. Christensen’s pretrial detention and the
arbitrary deprivation of his liberty as a result of his religious activity.
On September 4, 2017, the ECHR communicated the application to the
Russian Government.

PE RSO NAL Family: Dennis Ole Christensen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on
December 18, 1972.
HISTO RY Education: In 1993, he received a diploma in construction at a trade school
in the city of Haslev, Denmark.
Move to Russia: In 1995, he moved to St. Petersburg, and he moved to
Murmansk in 1999. There he met his wife, Irina, and married her in 2002.
In 2006, they moved to Oryol.
Occupation: Mr. Christensen was self-employed, specializing in interior
finishes. He was never a foreign missionary. He moved to Oryol for
personal reasons, not at the invitation of any organization.

Reaction of the International Community

Ms. Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for the External Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner
4
Action Service of the European Union: for Human Rights:

The European Union expects Mr Christensen to The harsh sentence imposed on Christensen
be released immediately and unconditionally. creates a dangerous precedent, and effectively
Jehovah’s Witnesses, as with all other religious criminalises the right to freedom of religion or
groups, must be able to peacefully enjoy freedom belief for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia – in
of assembly without interference, as guaranteed contravention of the State’s obligations under the
by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, as International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
well as by Russia’s international commitments and
We also call on the authorities to drop charges
international human rights standards.
against and to release all those detained for
https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters- exercising their rights to freedom of religion or
homepage/57728/statement-spokesperson-sentencing-
dennis-christensen-russia_en
belief, the freedom of opinion and expression,
and the right to freedom of peaceful assembly
and association.
Ms. Kristina Arriaga, Vice Chair of the U.S.
Commission on International Religious Freedom: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.
aspx?NewsID=24145&LangID=E
Evidently, it’s not enough for the state to brand
peaceful groups like the Jehovah’s Witnesses The co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Russia
‘extremist’; it must also imprison their members. Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe:
Russia must enter the 21st century and respect
religious freedom as a fundamental human right. Mr Christensen’s conviction and imprisonment
for nothing more than peacefully practising his
https://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/press-releases-
statements/uscirf-condemns-russian-conviction-danish-
faith is an unacceptable violation of the right to
prisoner-conscience freedom of religion.
http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/News/News-View-EN.
asp?newsid=7366&lang=2&cat=3

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

OTHER MEMBERS OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
CURRENTLY ON TRIAL IN RUSSIA

Sergey Skrynnikov
Year of birth: 1962
First pretrial measure ruling: March 13, 2018
Charges: ‘Participating in the activity of an extremist organization,’ under Article 282.2(2)
of RF Criminal Code
Current stage: Zheleznodorozhniy District Court of the city of Oryol

In February 2018, authorities initiated charges of ‘participating in the activity of an

extremist organization’ against Sergey Skrynnikov, based on a video recording of
a public discourse that he had given a year earlier. The video had been made by an
undercover FSB agent who subsequently delivered it to authorities. If convicted,
Mr. Skrynnikov could face two to four years’ imprisonment.

Yuriy Zalipayev
Year of birth: 1962
First pretrial measure ruling: April 24, 2018
Charges: ‘Engaging in extremist calls/appeals and inciting religious hatred,’ under
5
Articles 280(1) and 282(1) of RF Criminal Code
Current stage: Mayskiy District Court of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria

In August 2017, authorities initiated false charges of “extremist” activity

against Yuriy Zalipayev, based on a raid at the Witnesses’ local house of
worship in August 2016. During the raid, the FSB planted literature from the
Federal List of Extremist Materials, leading to the charge that Mr. Zalipayev
distributed banned literature. His trial continues in the Mayskiy District Court
of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria.

Arkadya Akopyan
Year of birth: 1948
First pretrial measure ruling: May 3, 2017
Charges: ‘Inciting religious hatred,’ under Article 282(1) of RF Criminal Code
Current stage: Appeal from prosecutor requesting that his criminal case be terminated

On December 27, 2018, the Prokhladniy District Court of the Republic of Kab-
ardino-Balkaria found Mr. Akopyan guilty of ‘inciting religious hatred,’ based
on false claims that he had made defamatory statements during a sermon he
had given at a house of worship and had distributed “extremist” literature. The
court sentenced Mr. Akopyan to 120 hours of community service. On January
10, 2019, the prosecutor filed an appeal against the decision and requested
that his criminal case be terminated in view of recent amendments to Article
282 of the Criminal Code.

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

 CRIMINALIZING JEHOVAH’S
WITNESSES FOR PEACEFUL
RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY

For over a decade, Russian authorities have grossly misapplied

legislation on extremism to the peaceful religious activity of Jehovah’s
Witnesses. During that time, the authorities created a legal veneer to
criminalize the Witnesses’ worship. Finally, on April 20, 2017, the Russian
Federation Supreme Court ruled to liquidate the national office of
Jehovah’s Witnesses and 395 LROs. Since then, the situation in Russia
has deteriorated considerably.

Now, Jehovah’s Witnesses are labeled as “extremists,” and Russian

authorities are treating them as if they were dangerous criminals.
Rather than fight
extremism, Russia The Russian government has directly violated its guarantees made in
open court that the ban on the legal entities of Jehovah’s Witnesses
is persecuting its
would not affect the rights of individual Witnesses to practice their faith.
own citizens for their
Russia has completely disregarded this guarantee and is grossly misap-
peaceful worship.
plying its own laws, criminally charging the Witnesses with participating
in, organizing, or financing “extremist” activity.
6

The following pages list members of Jehovah’s Witnesses who are in

pretrial detention, are under house arrest, or have been ordered not to
leave their hometown.

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES IN
PRETRIAL DETENTION IN RUSSIA

Aleksandr Akopov Sergey Britvin

Year of birth: 1992 Year of birth: 1965
Detained: December 12, 2018 Detained: July 22, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing the activity of Charges: ‘organizing the activity of
an extremist organization,’ under an extremist organization,’ under
Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code
Current location: Detention Center Current location: Detention Center
#1 in Stavropol Region #1 in Kemerovo Region

Vladimir Atryakhin Aleksey Budenchuk

Year of birth: 1987 Year of birth: 1982
Detained: February 6, 2019 Detained: June 12, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing the activity of Charges: ‘organizing the activity
an extremist organization,’ under of an extremist organization,’
Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code under Article 282.2(1) of RF
Current location: Detention Center Criminal Code 7
#1 in Republic of Mordovia Current location: Detention
Center #1 in Saratov Region

Dmitriy Barmakin Sergey Klimov

Year of birth: 1974 Year of birth: 1970
Detained: July 28, 2018 Detained: June 3, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing the activity of Charges: ‘organizing the activity of
an extremist organization,’ under an extremist organization,’ under
Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code
Current location: Detention Center Current location: Detention Center
#1 in Primorskiy Territory #1 in Tomsk Region

Konstantin Bazhenov Vadim Levchuk

Year of birth: 1975 Year of birth: 1972
Detained: June 12, 2018 Detained: July 22, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing the activity of Charges: ‘organizing the activity of
an extremist organization,’ under an extremist organization,’ under
Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code
Current location: Detention Center Current location: Detention Center
#1 in Saratov Region #1 in Kemerovo Region

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

 JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES IN
PRETRIAL DETENTION IN RUSSIA
(continued)

Feliks Makhammadiyev Konstantin Samsonov

Year of birth: 1984 Year of birth: 1977
Detained: June 12, 2018 Detained: December 9, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing the activity of Charges: ‘organizing the activity of
an extremist organization,’ under an extremist organization,’ under
Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code
Current location: Detention Center Current location: Detention Center
#1 in Saratov Region #1 in Stavropol Region

Valeriy Moskalenko Yuriy Savelyev

Year of birth: 1967 Year of birth: 1954
Detained: August 2, 2018 Detained: November 9, 2018
Charges: ‘participating in the Charges: ‘organizing the activity of
activity of an extremist an extremist organization,’ under
organization,’ under Article Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code
8 282.2(2) of RF Criminal Code Current location: Detention Center
Current location: Detention Center #1 in Novosibirsk Region
#1 in Khabarovsk Territory

Georgiy Nikulin Andrey Sazonov

Year of birth: N/A Year of birth: 1980
Detained: February 6, 2019 Detained: February 6, 2019
Charges: ‘organizing the activity of Charges: ‘organizing the activity of
an extremist organization,’ under an extremist organization,’ under
Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code
Current location: Detention Center Current location: Detention
#1 in Republic of Mordovia Center #1 in Khanty–Mansi
Autonomous Area

Andrzej Oniszczuk Aleksandr Shevchuk

POLISH CITIZEN Year of birth: 1989
Year of birth: 1968 Detained: February 6, 2019
Detained: October 9, 2018 Charges: ‘organizing the activity of
an extremist organization,’ under
Charges: ‘organizing and financing
Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code
the activity of an extremist organi-
zation,’ under Article 282.2(1) and Current location: Detention Center
282.3(1) of RF Criminal Code #1 in Republic of Mordovia
Current location: Detention Center
#1 in Kirov Region

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

 Nataliya Sorokina Shamil Sultanov
Year of birth: 1975 Year of birth: 1977
Detained: October 7, 2018 Detained: December 9, 2018
Charges: ‘participating in the Charges: ‘organizing the activity of
activity of an extremist organiza- an extremist organization,’ under
tion,’ under Article 282.2(2) of RF Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code
Criminal Code Current location: Detention Center
Current location: Detention Center #1 in Stavropol Region
#1 in Smolensk Region

Yevgeniy Spirin Yevgeniy Suvorkov

Year of birth: 1986 Year of birth: 1978
Detained: January 28, 2019 Detained: October 9, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing the activity of Charges: ‘organizing and financing
an extremist organization,’ under the activity of extremist organiza-
Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code tion,’ under Article 282.2(1) and
Current location: Detention Center 282.3(1) of RF Criminal Code 9
#1 in Ivanovo Region Current location: Detention Center
#1 in Kirov Region

Andrey Stupnikov Mariya Troshina

Year of birth: 1973 Year of birth: 1977
Detained: July 3, 2018 Detained: October 7, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing the activity of Charges: ‘participating in the
an extremist organization,’ under activity of an extremist organiza-
Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code tion,’ under Article 282.2(2) of RF
Current location: Detention Center Criminal Code
#1 in Krasnoyarsk Territory Current location: Detention Center
#1 in Smolensk Region

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

 JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
UNDER HOUSE ARREST IN RUSSIA

Vladimir Alushkin Khasan Kogut

Year of birth: 1964 Year of birth: 1983
Detained: July 15, 2018 Detained: February 6, 2019
Charges: ‘organizing and Charges: ‘participating in the
participating in the activity of activity of an extremist
an extremist organization,’ organization,’ under Article
under Article 282.2(1), (2) of 282.2(2) of RF Criminal Code
RF Criminal Code

Ilkham Karimov Vladimir Korobeynikov

Year of birth: 1981 Year of birth: 1952
Detained: May 27, 2018 Detained: October 9, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing, recruiting Charges: ‘organizing and financ-
participation, and participating in ing the activity of an extremist
the activity of an extremist organization,’ under Article
10 organization,’ under Article 282.2(1) and 282.3(1) of RF
282.2(1), (1.1), (2) of RF Criminal Code
Criminal Code

Maksim Khalturin Vladimir Kulyasov

Year of birth: 1974 Year of birth: 1974
Detained: October 9, 2018 Detained: July 15, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing and financing Charges: ‘organizing and
the activity of an extremist organi- participating in the activity of
zation,’ under Article 282.2(1) and an extremist organization,’
282.3(1) of RF Criminal Code under Article 282.2(1), (2) of
RF Criminal Code

Stanislav Kim Anton Lemeshev

Year of birth: 1968 Year of birth: 1987
Detained: November 10, 2018 Detained: October 18, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing the activity of Charges: ‘organizing the activity
an extremist organization,’ under of an extremist organization,’
Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code under Article 282.2(1) of RF
Criminal Code

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

 Andrey Magliv Valentin Osadchuk
Year of birth: 1984 Year of birth: 1976
Detained: July 15, 2018 Detained: April 19, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing and Charges: ‘participating in the
participating in the activity of activity of an extremist
an extremist organization,’ organization,’ under Article
under Article 282.2(1), (2) of 282.2(2) of RF Criminal Code
RF Criminal Code

Dmitriy Malevaniy Olga Panyuta

Year of birth: 1990 Year of birth: 1959
Detained: November 25, 2018 Detained: November 25, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing the activity of Charges: ‘recruiting participation in
an extremist organization,’ under the activity of an extremist organi-
Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code zation,’ under Article 282.2(1.1) of
RF Criminal Code 11

Konstantin Matrashov Konstantin Petrov

Year of birth: 1988 Year of birth: 1986
Detained: May 27, 2018 Arrested: May 30, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing, recruiting Charges: ‘organizing the activity of
participation, and participating in an extremist organization,’ under
the activity of an extremist organi- Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code
zation,’ under Article 282.2(1), (1.1),
(2) of RF Criminal Code

Olga Opaleva Nikolay Polevodov

Year of birth: 1952 Year of birth: 1970
Detained: November 25, 2018 Detained: November 10, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing the activity of Charges: ‘organizing the activity of
an extremist organization,’ under an extremist organization,’ under
Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

 JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
UNDER HOUSE ARREST IN RUSSIA
(continued)

Sergey Polyakov Denis Timoshin

Year of birth: 1972 Year of birth: 1980
Detained: July 4, 2018 Detained: July 15, 2018
Charges: ‘participating in the Charges: ‘organizing and
activity of an extremist organiza- participating in the activity of
tion,’ under Article 282.2(2) of RF an extremist organization,’
Criminal Code under Article 282.2(1), (2) of
RF Criminal Code

Anastasiya Polyakova Aleksey Trofimov

Year of birth: 1984 Year of birth: 1959
Detained: July 4, 2018 Detained: November 25, 2018
Charges: ‘participating in the Charges: ‘organizing the activity
activity of an extremist organiza- of an extremist organization,’
tion,’ under Article 282.2(2) of RF under Article 282.2(1) of RF
12 Criminal Code Criminal Code

Ivan Puyda Anatoliy Vilitkevich

Year of birth: 1978 Year of birth: 1986
Detained: May 30, 2018 Arrested: April 10, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing the activity of Charges: ‘participating in the
an extremist organization,’ under activity of an extremist organi-
Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code zation,’ under Article 282.2(2)
of RF Criminal Code

Andrey Suvorkov Sergey Yerkin

Year of birth: 1993 Year of birth: 1953
Detained: October 9, 2018 Detained: May 30, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing and financing Charges: ‘organizing the activity
the activity of an extremist organi- of an extremist organization,’
zation,’ under Article 282.2(1) and under Article 282.2(1) of RF
282.3(1) of RF Criminal Code Criminal Code

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

 Aydar Yulmetyev Yevgeniy Zyablov
Year of birth: 1993 Year of birth: 1977
Detained: May 29, 2018 Detained: May 30, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing, recruiting Charges: ‘organizing the activity of
participation, and participating in an extremist organization,’ under
the activity of an extremist organi- Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code
zation,’ under Article 282.2(1), (1.1),
(2) of RF Criminal Code

Vitaliy Zhuk
Year of birth: 1972
Detained: November 10, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing the activity of
an extremist organization,’ under
Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code
13

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

 JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES ORDERED
NOT TO LEAVE THEIR HOMETOWN

Arkadya Akopyan Alam Aliev

ON APPEAL Year of birth: 1963
First pretrial measure ruling:
Year of birth: 1948
May 18, 2018
First pretrial measure ruling: Charges: ‘organizing the activity
May 3, 2017 of an extremist organization,’
Charges: ‘inciting religious hatred,’ under Article 282.2(1) of RF
under Article 282(1) of RF Criminal Code
Criminal Code
Current stage: Sentenced by
Prokhladniy District Court to 120
hours community service.
Prosecutor is requesting that
Aleksey Arkhipov
criminal case be terminated. Year of birth: 1960
First pretrial measure ruling:
June 22, 2018
Charges: ‘participating in the
Sergey Skrynnikov
activity of an extremist
14 ON TRIAL organization,’ under Article
282.2(2) of RF Criminal Code
Year of birth: 1962
First pretrial measure ruling:
March 13, 2018
Charges: ‘participating in the
activity of an extremist organiza- Konstantin Bazhenov
tion,’ under Article 282.2(2) of Year of birth: 1977
RF Criminal Code
First pretrial measure ruling:
Current stage: Zheleznodorozhniy August 19, 2018
District Court Charges: ‘organizing the activity
of an extremist organization,’
under Article 282.2(1) of RF
Criminal Code

Yuriy Zalipayev
ON TRIAL
Snezhanna Bazhenova
Year of birth: 1962
Year of birth: 1977
First pretrial measure ruling:
First pretrial measure ruling:
April 24, 2018
August 19, 2018
Charges: ‘engaging in extremist Charges: ‘organizing the activity
calls/appeals and inciting religious of an extremist organization,’
hatred,’ under Articles 280(1) and under Article 282.2(1) of RF
282(1) of RF Criminal Code Criminal Code
Current stage: Mayskiy District Court
of Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

 Aleksey Berchuk Gennadiy German
Year of birth: 1975 Year of birth: 1969
First pretrial measure ruling: First pretrial measure ruling:
January 21, 2019 June 14, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing the activity of Charges: ‘organizing the activity of
an extremist organization,’ under an extremist organization,’ under
Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code

Venera Dulova Dmitriy Golik

Year of birth: 1968 Year of birth: 1987
First pretrial measure ruling: First pretrial measure ruling:
August 1, 2018 July 20, 2018
Charges: ‘participating in the Charges: ‘participating in the
activity of an extremist activity of an extremist
organization,’ under Article organization,’ under Article 15
282.2(2) of RF Criminal Code 282.2(2) of RF Criminal Code

Sergey Filatov Roman Gridasov

Year of birth: 1972 Year of birth: 1978
First pretrial measure ruling: First pretrial measure ruling:
November 16, 2018 June 14, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing the activity of Charges: ‘organizing the activity of
an extremist organization,’ under an extremist organization,’ under
Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code

Lyubov Galaktionova Igor Ivashin

Year of birth: 1942 Year of birth: 1976
First pretrial measure ruling: First pretrial measure ruling:
April 19, 2018 July 2, 2018
Charges: ‘participating in the Charges: ‘organizing the activity of
activity of an extremist an extremist organization,’ under
organization,’ under Article Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code
282.2(2) of RF Criminal Code

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

 JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES ORDERED
NOT TO LEAVE THEIR HOMETOWN
(continued)

Maya Karpushkina Sergey Ledenyov

Year of birth: Unknown Year of birth: 1974
First pretrial measure ruling: First pretrial measure ruling:
November 10, 2018 December 2, 2018
Charges: ‘participating in the Charges: ‘organizing the activity
activity of an extremist of an extremist organization,’
organization,’ under Article under Article 282.2(1) of RF
282.2(2) of RF Criminal Code Criminal Code

Nailya Kogay Pavel Lekontsev

Year of birth: 1951 Year of birth: 1981
First pretrial measure ruling: First pretrial measure ruling:
April 19, 2018 May 16, 2018
Charges: ‘participating in the Charges: ‘participating in the
activity of an extremist activity of an extremist
16 organization,’ under Article organization,’ under Article
282.2(2) of RF Criminal Code 282.2(2) of RF Criminal Code

Valeriy Kriger Sergey Logunov

Year of birth: 1968 Year of birth: 1962
First pretrial measure ruling: First pretrial measure ruling:
June 29, 2018 May 16, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing the activity of Charges: ‘participating in the
an extremist organization,’ under activity of an extremist
Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code organization,’ under Article
282.2(2) of RF Criminal Code

Viktor Kuchkov Aleksey Matveev

Year of birth: 1967 Year of birth: 1983
Detained: September 17, 2018 First pretrial measure ruling:
Charges: ‘organizing the activity of May 16, 2018
an extremist organization,’ under Charges: ‘participating in the
Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code activity of an extremist
organization,’ under Article
282.2(2) of RF Criminal Code

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

 Dmitriy Mikhailov Nina Purge
Year of birth: 1977 Year of birth: 1940
Detained: May 29, 2018 First pretrial measure ruling:
Charges: ‘participating and April 19, 2018
financing the activity of an Charges: ‘participating in the
extremist organization,’ under activity of an extremist
Article 282.2(2) and 282.3(1) of organization,’ under Article
RF Criminal Code 282.2(2) of RF Criminal Code

Yelena Mikhailova Sergey Rayman

Year of birth: 1983 Year of birth: 1996
First pretrial measure ruling: First pretrial measure ruling:
June 27, 2018 July 25, 2018
Charges: ‘participating and financ- Charges: ‘organizing and
ing the activity of an extremist participating in the activity of
organization,’ under Article 282.2(2) an extremist organization,’ 17
and 282.3 (1) of RF Criminal Code under Article 282.2(1), (2) of
RF Criminal Code

Aleksey Miretskiy Valeriya Rayman

Year of birth: 1975 Year of birth: 1993
First pretrial measure ruling: First pretrial measure ruling:
June 14, 2018 July 25, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing the activity of Charges: ‘organizing and
an extremist organization,’ under participating in the activity of
Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code an extremist organization,’
under Article 282.2(1), (2) of
RF Criminal Code

Aleksandr Prianikov Svetlana Ryzhkova

Year of birth: 1987 Year of birth: 1953
First pretrial measure ruling: First pretrial measure ruling:
September 21, 2018 June 27, 2018
Charges: ‘participating in the Charges: ‘participating and
activity of an extremist financing the activity of an
organization,’ under Article extremist organization,’ under
282.2(2) of RF Criminal Code Article 282.2(2), 282.3(1) of RF
Criminal Code

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

 JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES ORDERED
NOT TO LEAVE THEIR HOMETOWN
(continued)

Svetlana Sedova Igor Turik

Year of birth: 1969 Year of birth: 1968
First pretrial measure ruling: Detained: September 17, 2018
November 10, 2018 Charges: ‘organizing the activity
Charges: ‘participating in the of an extremist organization,’
activity of an extremist under Article 282.2(1) of RF
organization,’ under Article Criminal Code
282.2(2) of RF Criminal Code

Svetlana Shishina Raisa Usanova

Year of birth: 1975 Year of birth: 1947
First pretrial measure ruling: First pretrial measure ruling:
June 22, 2018 April 19, 2018
Charges: ‘participating in the Charges: ‘participating in the
activity of an extremist activity of an extremist
18 organization,’ under Article organization,’ under Article
282.2(2) of RF Criminal Code 282.2(2) of RF Criminal Code

Zinaida Soldatova Yelena Zayshchuk

Year of birth: 1967 Year of birth: 1934
First pretrial measure ruling: First pretrial measure ruling:
June 12, 2018 April 19, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing, recruiting Charges: ‘participating in the
participation, and participating in activity of an extremist
the activity of an extremist orga- organization,’ under Article
nization,’ under Article 282.2(1), 282.2(2) of RF Criminal Code
(1.1), (2) of RF Criminal Code

Valentina Stepkina Nikolay Zhugin

Year of birth: 1951 Year of birth: 1976
First pretrial measure ruling: First pretrial measure ruling:
June 6, 2018 May 16, 2018
Charges: ‘organizing, recruiting Charges: ‘participating in the
participation, and participating in activity of an extremist
the activity of an extremist orga- organization,’ under Article
nization,’ under Article 282.2(1), 282.2(2) of RF Criminal Code
(1.1), (2) of RF Criminal Code

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

 Tatyana Zhuk Vera Zolotova
Year of birth: 1973 Year of birth: 1946
First pretrial measure ruling: First pretrial measure ruling:
November 10, 2018 August 19, 2018
Charges: ‘participating in the Charges: ‘organizing the activity of
activity of an extremist an extremist organization,’ under
organization,’ under Article Article 282.2(1) of RF Criminal Code
282.2(2) of RF Criminal Code

19

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

 STATE CONFISCATION
OF PROPERTY

On August 17, 2017, nearly four months after the Supreme Court decision to
ban and liquidate the Witnesses’ legal entities, the Ministry of Justice added
the Administrative Center of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia (the Witnesses’
national office) to the list of banned organizations in Russia. Soon after, the
Russian government began legal proceedings to seize properties owned by
the Administrative Center (located near St. Petersburg) and the Witnesses’
395 LROs throughout the country.

These properties are valued at over $90 million. The key piece of
property is the Administrative Center—an office and residential complex
valued at approximately $30 million. The Administrative Center is owned
by a U.S. corporation, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of
Pennsylvania.

• On December 7, 2017, the Sestroretskiy District Court annulled a

long-standing contract on the property used by the Administrative
Center, opening the way for the State to seize the property.

• On May 3, 2018, the Saint Petersburg City Court upheld the

December 7 decision.
20
• On August 3, 2018, the court ruled in favor of the government
and transferred ownership of the Administrative Center property,
ordering it to be officially registered in the name of the
Russian Federation.

In addition to the Administrative Center property, the Russian

government is also confiscating the buildings that Jehovah’s Witnesses
had previously used as houses of worship.

• The authorities have already confiscated nearly 100 properties,

and more than 300 additional properties are in danger of being
confiscated. Many of these properties are owned by legal entities
of Jehovah’s Witnesses based in various countries in Europe.
Their total value is approximately $60 million.

Administrative Center of
Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report
RAIDS
The following are some examples of the dozens of
aggressive police raids on the homes of Jehovah’s
Witnesses that have occurred since early 2018:

Polyarny

Pskov

Sychevka
Kostroma
Oryol Furmanov
Magadan
Shuya, Ivanovo Region
Kirov Elizovo
Belgorod
Penza Karpinsk Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy Vilyuchinsk
Perm
Saratov
Naberezhniye Chelny
Chapayevsk Dyurtuli
Ufa Lensk
Nevinnomyssk Ipatovo
Orenburg
Nogliki
Mayskiy Neftekumsk Omsk Yuzhino-Sakhalinsk
Tomsk
Berezovskiy Krasnoyarsk
Novosibirsk Nevelsk
Kemerovo
Blagoveshchensk
Khabarovsk
21
Birobidzhan
Spassk-Dalniy
Vladivostok
Razdolnoe

Location of Raids

1 April 18, 2018. Polyarny, Murmansk Region. Heavily armed riot police
raided the homes of three Witnesses. The officers kicked down doors,
threw people to the floor, threatened the Witnesses with weapons,
and roughly forced women and minors to stand with their face to the
wall and their hands up. The police seized personal items—tablets,
telephones, documents, and Bible-based literature.
At the home of 44-year-old Roman Markin, police broke down the door
with a battering ram and threatened him at gunpoint. Mr. Markin’s
16-year-old daughter was present at the time and immediately put her
hands on her head and lay flat on the floor.
In all, the police took 15 Witnesses, including minors, to the station for
an interrogation lasting from 1:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. The investigators
initiated criminal charges against Roman Markin and 61-year-old Viktor
Trofimov under Article 282.2(1) of the Russian Federation Criminal Code
(organizing the activity of an extremist organization). Both men were
sentenced to pretrial detention and later placed under house arrest.

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

 2 May 17, 2018. Birobidzhan. In a sting operation code-named
Judgment Day, 150 police officers and members of the FSB raided 22
homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The police seized tablets, cell phones,
and money. Police arrested and imprisoned Alam Aliev, one of the 34
Witnesses searched during the raids. On May 18, the Birobidzhanskiy
District Court ordered that he be kept in pretrial detention until
July 13, 2018, under Article 282.2(1) (organizing the activity of an
extremist organization). Mr. Aliev appealed, and on May 25, 2018, the
court ordered his release. The investigator ordered him to sign an
agreement not to leave the city.

3 June 12, 2018, Saratov and Village of Shirokoye, Saratov Region.

Law enforcement officers searched at least seven homes, involving
about 20 Jehovah’s Witnesses. Police broke down apartment doors,
Konstantin Bazhenov,
behaved very rudely, and seized all electronic devices, books,
Feliks Makhammadiyev and photographs, personal notes, foreign passports, and cash. In at
Aleksey Budenchuk in court least two homes, the police planted banned religious publications of
Jehovah’s Witnesses. They took more than ten Witnesses to the FSB
office for interrogation and held them until nearly midnight. Criminal
cases were initiated against six Witnesses under Article 282.2(1)
22 (organizing the activity of an extremist organization). Konstantin
Bazhenov, Feliks Makhammadiyev, and Alexey Budenchuk were
put in pretrial detention. Three others—Gennadiy German, Roman
Gridasov, and Alexey Miretsky—were ordered to sign an agreement
not to leave the city.

4 June 30–July 1, 2018. Lensk, Republic of Sakha-Yakutia. At

5:30 p.m., police forces raided the homes of eight Witnesses and
seized personal belongings, including photographs, flash and hard
drives, mobile phones, computers, and different Bible translations.
The police escorted 22 people to the police station, detained
them for up to five hours, and interrogated most of them. During
the interrogations, the investigators revealed that the Witnesses
had been kept under surveillance for more than six months.
After the interrogation, one woman was hospitalized because
of a psychological breakdown, and another woman suffered a
miscarriage. The investigators initiated a criminal case against
42-year-old Igor Ivashin under Article 282.2(1) (organizing the
activity of an extremist organization) and ordered him to sign
an agreement not to leave the city.

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

5 July 4, 2018. Omsk, Omsk Region. At 7:00 a.m., police forces raided
the homes of at least four Witnesses and searched their houses,
land plots, outbuildings, and vehicles until 3:00 p.m. Sergey and
Anastasia Polyakov were asleep when the police invaded their home.
Even though Mr. Polyakov offered no resistance, the police beat
him severely. The investigators initiated criminal cases against both
of them under Article 282.2(2) (participating in the activities of an
extremist organization). Both husband and wife were sentenced to
pretrial detention and later placed under house arrest.

6 July 15, 2018. Penza, Penza Region. Around 4:00 p.m., police forces
raided four locations where Witnesses had gathered for a peaceful
meeting. In some locations the police mocked, humiliated, and
threatened the Witnesses. In one location, a female investigator
made personal searches of six female Witnesses, completely stripping
them one by one. The police seized all electronic devices and storage
media, printed photographs, personal notes, and notebooks. They
detained approximately 40 adults and took them to the police
station—leaving the children unattended in their homes. The
investigators initiated a criminal case against Vladimir Alushkin under
Article 282.2(1) (organizing the activity of an extremist organization). 23
Mr. Alushkin was placed in pretrial detention until January 14, 2019,
and later placed under house arrest. The investigators also initiated
criminal cases against Vladimir Kulyasov, Andrey Magliv, and Denis
Timoshin under Article 282.2(2) (participating in the activities of an
extremist organization). All three were placed under house arrest.

7 July 19, 2018. Razdolnoye, Primorskiy Territory. Seven people,

including three armed men wearing masks, broke into the
apartment of 75-year-old Witness Mr. V.F. and his 72-year-old wife,
L.F., and shouted: “Lie down! Hands behind your back!” They forced
Mr. V.F.’s hands behind his back, knocked him down, and bruised his
nose and cheek. The elderly couple’s ill 52-year-old daughter lost
consciousness as a result of the shock, and the mother suffered
a severe hypertensive crisis. An ambulance had to be called for
both mother and daughter. The investigator seized their electronic
devices, Bible literature, and Bibles, including valuable antique
editions from 1907. Investigators interrogated the father, mother,
and daughter until 2:30 a.m. During the interrogation, Mrs. L.F.
again had to call for an ambulance.

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

 8 July 25, 2018. Kostroma, Kostroma Region. Riot police forces raided
the homes of Witnesses in Kostroma, including the home of Sergey
and Valeria Rayman, a young couple in their 20’s. The police seized
all electronic devices and Bibles and made derogatory remarks about
the Witnesses’ beliefs. At 7:00 a.m., police searched the home of Mrs.
Rayman’s mother, M.L., and seized electronic devices, a computer,
a printer, a Bible, and personal publications. Investigators initiated
a criminal case against the Raymans under Articles 282.2(1) and
Arrest of Sergey Rayman
(2) (organizing and participating in the activities of an extremist
organization). Mr. Rayman was placed in pretrial detention and
later placed under house arrest. Mrs. Rayman was placed under
restrictions, including a curfew, for the same period of time as her
husband’s detention and house arrest. Presently, they both remain
under restrictions.

9 October 9, 2018. Kirov, Kirov Region. Police and masked special

forces raided the homes of at least 15 Witnesses in Kirov. Police
placed Andrzej Oniszczuk, Vladimir Korobeynikov, Andrey Suvorkov,
Yevgeniy Suvorkov, and Maksim Khalturin in 72-hour police detention.
Investigators initiated charges against the five men under Articles
282.2(1) and 282.3(1) (organizing and financing the activity of an
extremist organization.)
On October 11, 2018, the Pervomayskiy District Court in Kirov ordered
Andrey Suvorkov, Maksim Khalturin, that Mr. Khalturin and Andrey Suvorkov be placed in pretrial detention
Andrzej Oniszczuk, Vladimir Korobeynikov, until December 1, 2018. On October 12, the Pervomayskiy District
and Yevgeniy Suvorkov in court
Court similarly ordered that Mr. Oniszczuk, Mr. Korobeynikov, and
Yevgeniy Suvorkov be placed in pretrial detention until December 2,
2018. The court later placed Mr. Korobeynikov under house arrest and
extended the detention of the four other men until February 2, 2019.
Mr. Oniszczuk is a Polish citizen, who has been living in Russia under
a temporary residence permit. His wife has been in contact with the
Poland Embassy in Moscow.

10 November 8, 2018. Novosibirsk, Novosibirsk Region. Law

enforcement officers led by the Investigative Committee of Russia
carried out mass searches in the homes of ten Witnesses in
Novosibirsk. The police confiscated phones, tablets, and other
personal belongings. During the raid on one apartment where a small
group of Witnesses had gathered, the police officers pointed their
automatic weapons at everyone present. The Witnesses, including
one minor, were traumatized by the aggressive actions of the officers.
Authorities initiated criminal charges against Mr. Yuriy Savelyev under
Article 282.2(1) (organizing the activity of an extremist organization).
A court sentenced Mr. Savelyev to pretrial detention until January 7,
2019, later extended until March 7.

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

11 November 10, 2018. Khabarovsk, Khabarovsk Territory. A group
of around 50 Witnesses was at a friendly gathering at a café when
30 to 35 FSB officers and OMON forces stormed into the room. The
officers seized personal items and interrogated, fingerprinted, and
photographed all of the Witnesses present, including minors. The
ordeal lasted five hours. The officers searched the apartments of
three of the Witnesses at the gathering. They also searched two
nearby homes of Witnesses who had not even attended
the gathering.
Authorities initiated charges against three male Witnesses—Nikolay
Polevodov, Stanislav Kim, and Vitaliy Zhuk—under Article 282.2(1)
(organizing the activity of an extremist organization) and against
three female Witnesses—Tatiana Zhuk, Maya Karpushkina, and
Svetlana Sedova—under Article 282.2(2) (participating in the activity
of an extremist organization). The men were sentenced to pretrial
detention, and the women were required to sign an agreement not
to leave the area. On January 14, 2019, the Khabarovskiy Territorial
Court released Mr. Polevodov and Mr. Zhuk from prison and placed
them under house arrest until April 9, 2019. The court extended Mr.
Kim’s detention until January 9, 2019, but he has since been released
and placed under house arrest. 25

12 November 16, 2018. Crimea. In one of the largest operations

targeting religious worshippers in the history of modern Russia,
a group of some 200 law enforcement officers, including FSB
agents and OMON forces, raided at least eight homes of Jehovah’s
Witnesses in Crimea.
Because of the stress caused by the invasion of armed and masked
police, two older Witnesses experienced a severe spike in their
blood pressure and had to be taken to the hospital. A 22-year-old
Witness suffered a miscarriage. After being pinned against the wall,
handcuffed, and beaten by officers, a 78-year-old Witness, Aleksandr
Ursu, was rushed to the hospital.
At this time, only one Witness, Sergey Filatov, is facing criminal
charges. The authorities have charged him under Article 282.2(1)
(organizing the activity of an extremist organization), and the court
ordered that he sign an agreement not to leave the area.

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

 13 December 9, 2018. Neftekumsk, Stavropol Territory. Police forces
raided the homes of at least seven Witnesses in Neftekumsk. Ten
to 15 officers carried out each raid. Most arrived in army trucks,
wore masks and riot gear, and brandished automatic weapons. The
officers confiscated publications, phones, computers, personal
notes, notebooks, hard drives, money, photographs, and other
personal items.
During one raid, Ms. Samsonov, who is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses,
was subjected to a personal search after she was forced to strip
naked in the presence of female police officers. Her minor son was
also made to strip down to his underwear. During another raid, the
officers would not allow a handicapped woman to use the bathroom
when she requested to do so. The officers’ aggressive search at
another location caused a small child to panic and cry in fear. The
officers’ search at another home caused a female Witness to need
assistance from the emergency medical services.
Authorities initiated charges against Aleksandr Akopov, Shamil
Sultanov, and Konstantin Samsonov, under Article 282.2(1)
26 (organizing the activity of an extremist organization). The
investigator offered the Witnesses freedom in exchange for
renouncing their faith. They refused his offer.
On December 11, a court sentenced Mr. Sultanov and Mr. Samsonov
to pretrial detention until February 6, 2019. On December 12, Mr.
Akopov was summoned to the police station. The following day, he
was sentenced to pretrial detention until February 6, 2019.

14 January 20, 2019. Island of Sakhalin. Special police forces raided

11 homes of Witnesses in the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and in
the towns of Nevelsk and Nogliki. In Nogliki, the police punched
homeowner Aleksandr Ryndin in the face when he opened the
door and threw him to the ground. They questioned his 14-year-old
son in the presence of his schoolteacher, who was brought along
by the police to serve as an attesting witness. The officers seized
tablets, phones, computers, and books. No one was arrested at
the time. However, a criminal case was initiated against 57-year-old
Sergey Kulakov under Article 282.2(1) (organizing the activity of an
extremist organization).

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

SEEKING RELIEF THROUGH
INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNALS

48 Applications
pending with
the ECHR
11 Complaints
pending with
the CCPR
6 Complaints
pending with
the UN WGAD

A P P LI C ATI O N S CO M P L A I NT S CO M P L A I NT S

Liquidation of National
1
Religious Organization

Liquidation of Local Religious

5 4
Organization, Registration

Censorship of Religious Literature

8 2
and Website

Revocation of Permit to Import

1
Religious Literature

Detention or Criminal Conviction for

9 4 6
Practicing Religion

Prosecution/Detention for Evangelizing 4

27

Seizure of Religious Literature in

1 1
Transport

Home Search, Literature Seized 7

Raid on or Interference With

11
Religious Meeting

Denial of Alternative Service 1

MEETINGS WITH OFFICIALS

Except for members of the Presidential Council
for Civil Society and Human Rights, Russian
government officials have refused to meet
with Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Jehovah’s Witnesses | 2019 Religious Freedom Violation Special Report

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
OBJECTIVES

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE
RUSSIAN FEDERATION TO:

1. End the persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in

Russia and stop all raids, arrests, interrogations, and
criminal investigations for peaceful religious activity.

2. Annul the April 2017 Supreme Court decision that

banned and liquidated all properties owned or used
by the Witnesses.

3. Release Dennis Christensen and other Witnesses

in detention.

4. Remove the Witnesses’ religious literature, including

the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures,
from the Federal List of Extremist Material.

5. Apply international standards as recommended by

the Venice Commission to legislation on extremism.

6. Abide by Russia’s Constitution and respect

international law, including the judgments of
the ECHR.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact the Office of Public
Information for Jehovah’s Witnesses at [email protected].

Visit the Newsroom at jw.org or scan here to

learn about legal developments and human
rights affecting Jehovah’s Witnesses.