Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly Digest August 01-15
15.08.2024 – The Court of Cassation did not change the verdict of the believers from Kazan
JW – On August 13, 2024, the Sixth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Samara upheld the sentence of the Bochkarevs and Tatyana Obizhestvit: for women—from 2 to 2.5 years suspended, for Andrey Bochkarev—3 years and 1 month in a penal colony. The term is considered to be served, taking into account the stay in a pre-trial detention center.
In the cassation appeal, the believers pointed to the fact that the conviction was based on assumptions, and not on evidence, that the defendants committed any extremist actions or made statements inciting hatred towards another nation or religion. They emphasized that Jehovah’s Witnesses treat people of other religions with kindness, love and tolerance.
15.08.2024 – In Moscow, a court fined and expelled a Tajik citizen from Russia
Sova – On July 25, 2024, the Lublin Court of Moscow prosecuted a citizen of Tajikistan for “illegal missionary work”.
The court found that on June 16, Muhammadrachab Yerov “organized a meeting of citizens in a public place uncoordinated with the local authorities to conduct the Islamic religious rite “Namaz”, proclaiming himself an “Imam”, in the absence of appropriate powers to carry out missionary activities by a foreign citizen”.
Yerov explained that he organized a celebration of the end of the month of Ramadan, in which 800-1000 people took part. The celebration took place near a multi-level car garage.
15.08.2024 – In Lyubertsy, after an anti-immigrant raid, the prosecutor’s office demands to suspend the activities of the prayer house
Sova – On August 6, 2024, it became known that the Lyubertsy City Prosecutor’s Office sent a lawsuit to the court to suspend the activities of the local religious organization of Muslims in the village of Oktyabrsky.
On August 2, in a prayer house located on 60 Years of Victory Street, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the city administration, representatives of the public chamber and local residents conducted a raid on compliance with migration legislation. During the examination of the prayer house, 136 people were checked with documents. As a result of the raid, 32 people were detained, protocols were drawn up on them under Part 3 of Art. 18.8 Code of Administrative Offenses (violation of the rules of entry or regime of stay (residence) of foreign citizens)
13.08.2024 – Four searches, interrogations, and new criminal case: prosecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Crimea continues
JW – On August 5, 2024, the homes of six Jehovah’s Witnesses from Crimea were searched and they were interrogated. A criminal case has been initiated against one elderly believer.
In the early morning, several armed groups of masked law enforcement officers invaded the homes of believers in the villages of Razdolnoye and Senokosnoye and the town of Alushta.
Law enforcement officers rudely demanded passwords for electronic devices, quizzed them about fellow believers, and in one case threatened to harm the pet. Electronic devices, including a push-button phone, and personal notes were seized. The searches were carried out under the leadership of Y.A. Merkulov, senior investigator of the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee for the Republic of Crimea.
13.08.2024 – A case of cooperation with Falun Gong has been initiated in Krasnodar
Sova – On August 9, 2024, it became known that a case was initiated in Krasnodar under Part 3 of Art. 284.1 of the Criminal Code (organization of activities of a foreign or international non-governmental organization, in respect of which a decision was made to recognize its activities as undesirable in the territory of the Russian Federation in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation). The case is against two local residents suspected of collaborating with Falun Gong.
13.08.2024 – A criminal case has been initiated against a Jehovah’s Witness from Crimea
Sova – On August 5, 2024, Jehovah’s Witnesses were searched in Crimea. A criminal case has been initiated under Part 1 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code (organization of the activities of an extremist organization) against 68-year-old Tamara Brattseva.
Six believers from the villages of Razdolnoye and Senokosnoye, as well as Alushta, were searched. Electronic devices and personal records were seized from them. One of the Jehovah’s Witnesses recorded injuries in the emergency room as a result of fixing his hands with a nylon screed.
The case is being investigated by the Investigative Committee of Russia.
11.08.2024 – Zelenskiy suggests moves towards banning Orthodox church with Moscow ties
Reuters – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pledged on Saturday to “strengthen our Ukrainian spiritual independence”, suggesting that the country’s leadership was moving towards effectively banning the branch of the Orthodox Church that has links to Moscow.
A majority of Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians, but the faith is split into one branch with traditional links to the Russian Orthodox church and an independent church, recognised by the world Orthodox hierarchy since 2019.
07.08.2024 – In St. Petersburg, a criminal case was initiated for a quote from the Koran near the church
Sova – On August 6, 2024, it became known that a case had been initiated under Part 1 of Art. 148 of the Criminal Code (public actions expressing obvious disrespect for society and committed in order to insult the religious feelings of believers) in St. Petersburg. The case is brought against a 22-year-old graduate of the Institute of Music, Theater and Choreography of Herzen University, suspected of vandalism.
According to the investigation, on July 30, she used aerosol paint to leave an inscription on the arch near the church in honor of Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg – a reference to the verse of the Quran with an appeal to pursue the polytheists.
The detainee was given a preventive measure in the form of a travel ban.
06.08.2024 – In Primorye, the verdict against Anton Virich for faith entered into force.
JW – On August 1, 2024, the judicial chamber of the Primorye Territorial Court upheld the guilty verdict against Anton Virich for organizing the activity of an extremist organization but reduced the term by 2 months. According to the defense, the decisions of the courts erroneously equate the peaceful practice of faith to unlawful activity.
During the proceedings in the court of first instance, it was found that four expert conclusions were drawn up in violation of the law. They do not contain documents on the education of the experts and do not indicate the religious research methods they used. Because of this, it is impossible to check to what extent their conclusions are reasonable and reliable. In addition, as the believer’s lawyer noted in his appeal, the court was unable to prove the motives of religious hatred and enmity that Virich was allegedly guided by.
08.08.2024 – Anti-war Christian preacher facing criminal prosecutions
Forum 18 – In 2023, Christian preacher Eduard Charov was fined for social media comments, including the remark: “would Jesus Christ have gone to kill in Ukraine????!” He now awaits criminal trial for further anti-war posts “discrediting” the armed forces. “Most likely, it will all end with a prison term for me”, he noted. Information on Charov’s case “is not subject to disclosure”, the Investigative Committee said. Orthodox priest Fr Ioann Kurmoyarov, jailed for also criticising Russia’s war in Ukraine from a religious perspective, was freed at the end of his sentence.
An independent Christian preacher from the Urals is awaiting criminal trial on charges of repeatedly “discrediting” the Russian armed forces and state bodies (Criminal Code Article 280.3, Part 1). “Most likely, it will all end with a prison term for me”, Eduard Charov noted. He is currently banned from leaving his home district and using the telephone or internet.
08.08.2024 – A trial in the case of cooperation with the recognized undesirable church “Vozrozhdenie” has begun in Moscow
Sova – In July 2024, the Simonovsky District Court of Moscow began consideration of the case on the continuation of the activities of the Vladimir Muntyan Renaissance Charitable Foundation based in Ukraine and the All-Ukrainian Spiritual Center Vozrozhdenie religious organization, whose activities in Russia were recognized as undesirable.
- Koval, I. Nagornova and N. Ukhova is charged under Part 3 of Art. 284.1 of the Criminal Code (organization of activities of a foreign or international non-governmental organization, in respect of which a decision was made to recognize its activities as undesirable in the territory of the Russian Federation in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation).
02.08.2024 – A new case was opened against a Jehovah’s Witness from Urai
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Sova – A new criminal case has been initiated against Andrei Sazonov from KhMAO, who has been prosecuted since 2019.
On August 1, 2024, it became known that the Uray Interdistrict Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia for KhMAO-Yugra was investigating a criminal case against Jehovah’s Witness Andrei Sazonov.
It is noted that Sazonov is considered the organizer of the activities of the banned Management Center of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Urai. Thus, it is probably a case under Part 1 of Art. 282.2 Criminal Code (organization of the activities of an extremist organization).
01.08.2024 – The Supreme Court approved the sentence of Bakhrom Khamroev
Sova – Earlier, Khamroev was sentenced to 13 years and 9 months in prison under Art. 205.2 and 205.5 of the Criminal Code.
On August 1, 2024, the Supreme Court of Russia approved the sentence of human rights defender Bakhrom Khamroev, who had previously been sentenced to 13 years and 9 months in prison under Part 2 of Art. 205.2 (justification of terrorism or propaganda of terrorism on the Internet) and Part 2 of Art. 205.5 of the Criminal Code (participation in the activities of a terrorist organization).