15.04.2025 – Criminal trial of anti-war believer begins, another continues, third awaited
Forum 18 – On 14 April, a military court began the trial of Christian preacher Eduard Charov on criminal charges of repeat “discreditation” of the Armed Forces and “public justification of terrorism”. He is accused over social media posts criticising Russia’s war against Ukraine. The trial of Zen Buddhist leader Ilya Vasilyev – arrested in June 2024 – continues in Moscow over anti-war posts he made “solely out of religious conviction”. Protestant pastor Nikolay Romanyuk is under investigation for an anti-war sermon. A court extended pre-trial detention until June, despite his poor health.
On 14 April, the criminal trial of 53-year-old independent Christian preacher Eduard Charov for repeat “discreditation” of the Armed Forces began at the Central Region Military Court in Yekaterinburg. Charov also stands accused of “public calls to commit terrorist activities, public justification of terrorism or propaganda of terrorism, using the internet” for what his wife Inna called a “sarcastic comment” on social media on another user’s post. Charov’s next hearing is due on 27 May.
15.04.2025 – The court in Birobidzhan sentenced Jehovah’s Witness to suspended imprisonment
Sova – On April 10, 2025, the Birobidzhansky District Court sentenced Jehovah’s Witness Vladlena Kukavitsa. The court found her guilty on the ch. 1.1 and 2 Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code (involvement in the activities of an extremist organization and participation in it) and sentenced to six years of suspended imprisonment with a five-year probation period. As an additional punishment, she was sentenced to two years of restriction of liberty.
The State Prosecutor in the debate of the parties, which began on February 27, 2025, asked to sentence Kukavits to seven years of suspended imprisonment.
14.04.2025 – Prosecuting blasphemy in Russia
USCIRF – Russia has intensified its enforcement of laws targeting perceived offensive expression toward religion, religious texts, and religious leaders. The Criminal Code penalizes “insulting the religious feelings of believers,” a vague, undefined standard that constitutes a blasphemy law. Following its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the government hardened its policing of speech. While certain offensive statements and actions may warrant public rebuke, prosecuting perceived offensive expressions regarding religion violates the right to freedom of religion or belief. This report provides an overview of blasphemy law enforcement in Russia and highlights recent cases.
14.04.2025 – In the Nizhny Novgorod region, a rural community is trying to legalize the mosque building
Sova – On April 13, 2025, it became known that the Local Religious Organization of Muslims of the village of Staromochalei, Pilnensky district, Nizhny Novgorod region, appealed to the Arbitration Court of the region with a claim to the district administration to legalize the mosque building.
The building with an area of 141 square meters on Svobody Street is considered an illegal construction.
The district administration does not object to the plaintiff’s claims. The consideration of the claim is scheduled for May 7.
11.04.2025 – The Ministry of Justice is trying to liquidate the Muslim community in Mozhaisk
Sova – On April 9, 2025, consideration of the claim of the Ministry of Justice for the liquidation of the Muslim community “Vatany” in Mozhaisk began. The Ministry of Justice considered the reason for the liquidation to mention in the minutes of the constituent meeting a person who died three days before the meeting.
“An error in the protocol in the presence of a quorum is not a reason for liquidation. The Muslim community did not violate the law, its activities are legal and do not pose a threat,” said Larisa Aliyeva, a lawyer of the community.
10.04.2025 – Religious liberty, Putin, and Lukashenko
Providence – While peace talks in Saudi Arabia grapple with Russia’s war in Ukraine, Moscow and its junior partner Belarus are already planning their next military collaboration as Russian convoys are reportedly congregating in Minsk to prepare for Zapad-2025 exercises. Amid this shadow of negotiations and saber-rattling, let’s not forget Alexander Lukashenko’s iron-fisted Belarusian regime, a persistent threat to Central and Eastern Europe.
Among the victims of Lukashenko’s tyranny are members of Belarus’s Polish and Catholic minority, whose cultural identity has made them targets in an intensifying campaign of repression—a campaign that aligns with Russia’s hybrid warfare against NATO.
10.04.2025 – The court in Moscow sent two Jehovah’s Witnesses to the pre-trial detention center
Sova – Viktor Velikov and Andrei Lukin are accused of financing extremist activities.
On April 10, 2025, the Savelovsky District Court of Moscow sent Viktor Velikov, a 54-year-old Jehovah’s Witness from Solnechnogorsk near Moscow, to the pre-trial detention center. He is accused under Part 1 of Art. 282.3 of the Criminal Code (financing the activities of an extremist organization). The corresponding criminal case was initiated on August 5, 2024. Velykov was detained on April 8 after a search.
On April 10, Jehovah’s Witness Andrei Lukin and his wife were searched in Tver as part of the same criminal case. Lukin was taken to Moscow and also sent to the pre-trial detention center.
09.04.2025 – How the Orthodox Church influences Russian families and Putin’s regime
Religion Unplugged – Six months after the invasion of Ukraine, the Putin regime announced a document titled “State Policy for the Preservation and Strengthening of Traditional Russian Spiritual and Moral Values.” The document aimed to shape the worldview of Russians by outlining various values, including a “strong family.”
Indeed, Putin has utilized the rhetoric surrounding the traditional values, which the Russian Orthodox Church has promoted, for his own purpose in wartime.
“Traditional values,” especially family values, are significantly central in the ROC teachings.
09.04.2025 – The sentence of Jehovah’s Witnesses from Kamchatka has been approved
Sova – The Kamchatka Regional Court left unchanged the sentence, according to which Sergei and Elena Chechulin were sentenced to six years of probation.
On April 8, 2025, the Kamchatka Regional Court left unchanged the sentence, which on February 19, 2025 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky city passed in the case of Jehovah’s Witnesses Elena and Sergei Chechulin.
The defendants were found guilty of organizing the activities of an extremist organization (part 1 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code) and sentenced them to six years of suspended imprisonment with a three-year probationary period. In addition, as additional punishments, they received a year of restriction of liberty and three years of ban on leading and participating in religious associations.
07.04.2025 – The Jehovah’s Witness case was referred to court in Novocheboksarsk
Sova – On March 27, 2025, the case of Jehovah’s Witness Alexander Protasov was submitted to the Novocheboksary City Court of Chuvashia. He is accused under Part 1 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code in the organization of the activities of a banned local religious organization.
The case against Protasov, who had previously received the status of a witness in the case of Yuri Yuskov, was initiated on September 3, 2024. On September 26, Protasov was accepted a non-departure subscription as a defendant. The believer is accused of holding religious meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
03.04.2025 – The leader of the “Karakol Initiative Group” was convicted
Sova – On April 2, 2025, Vasily Chekurashev, a 73-year-old resident of the Ongudai district of the Altai Republic, was convicted.
The court found him guilty under Part 1 of Art. 282.2 (organization of the activities of an extremist organization) and Part 1 of Art. 282.3 of the Criminal Code (financing of extremist activities) and sentenced to six years and eight months of suspended imprisonment with a probationary period of four years and six months, with deprivation of the right to organize public and religious associations for a period of five years, with restriction of liberty for one year.
03.04.2025 – Russian Jehovah’s Witness jailed for managing extremist ‘cells’
Reuters – A Jehovah’s Witness in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk was sentenced to six years in prison on Thursday for organising the activities of an extremist group, the local interior ministry said.
Maxim Khamatshin, 28, is one of 850 Jehovah’s Witnesses to be prosecuted in Russia in the eight years since it was banned. During that time, according to the faith group, 588 members were added to a federal register of extremists and terrorists and 460 had spent time in prison.
