27.06.2025 – A resident of Tomsk was convicted for cooperation with Falun Gong
Sova – On June 27, 2025, the Soviet District Court of Tomsk convicted the case of Russian citizen Zhu Yun, accused of cooperation with Falun Gong.
The court found him guilty under Part 3 of Art. 284.1 of the Criminal Code (organization of the activities of an undesirable NGO) and sentenced him to three years of imprisonment in a general regime colony with a ban on engaging in social and political activities for three years.
27.06.2025 – Sergey Tolokonnikov, Muscovite, released from penal colony — now his wife is under investigation for her faith
JW – Three years in a pre-trial detention center and nine months in a penal colony—the term of imprisonment of Sergey Tolokonnikov, 52, came to an end on June 27, 2025. On the day of his release, to the delight of the believer, he was met by his wife and many friends.
“I have mixed feelings… On the one hand, a sense of novelty, and on the other hand, I knew that I was about to come out. I knew that God would help me,” said Sergey. His wife, Mariya Pankova, added: “Although Seryozha [diminutive of Sergey] and I are not yet fully aware of what is happening, I am euphoric!”
27.06.2025 – Falun Gong followers were detained in Moscow in a criminal case of cooperation with an undesirable organization
Sova -On May 3, 2024, four Falun Gong followers were detained in Moscow. Their homes were searched in the case of cooperation with an undesirable organization.
Case under Part 3 of Art. 284.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (the implementation of the activities of a foreign or international non-governmental organization, in respect of which a decision was made to recognize its activities as undesirable on the territory of the Russian Federation) initiated the Tusha Interdistrict Investigation Department of the SU for the North-Western Administrative District of the GSU of the Investigative Committee of Russia in Moscow.
27.06.2025 – The trial of the leaders of the Church of the Last Testament continues to be considered in court
Sova – On April 5, 2022, it became known that the Prosecutor General’s Office approved the indictment in the case of the leaders of the Church of the Last Testament Sergei Torop (Vissarion), Vadim Redkin and Vladimir Vedernikov.
As a reminder, they are charged under Part 1 of Art. 239 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (creation of a non-profit organization that infringes on the personality and rights of citizens), paragraphs “a”, “b” of Part 3 of Art. 111 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (intentional infliction of serious harm to health), paragraph “d” of Part 2 of Art. 112 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (intentional infliction of moderate harm to health). Vedernikov, in addition, is accused under Part 4 of Art. 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (fraud).
26.06.2025 – The investigation of the criminal case of Jehovah’s Witnesses has been completed in Naberezhnye Chelny
Sova – In June 2025, it became known that the investigation of the Jehovah’s Witnesses case was completed in Naberezhnye Chelny, the indictment is under consideration by the prosecutor.
The criminal case was initiated on June 6, 2024 under Parts 1 and 2 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code (organization of the activities of an extremist organization and participation in it). After that, on July 24, 2024, six houses in Naberezhnye Chelny were searched in this case.
24.06.2025 – Disabled person in the Karachayevo-Circassian Republic sentenced to imprisonment
JW – On June 23, 2025, the Cherkessk City Court sent Vladimir Fomin, 45, to a penal colony for 4.5 years. Judge Sapar Baychorov found the believer guilty of extremism for talking about the Bible with a local resident. Prior to the verdict, Fomin spent 1 year and 3 months in a pretrial detention center.
At the age of 20, Vladimir became a victim of hatred on religious grounds. Aggressive young people beat the believer right on the territory of the building for worship. The sustained injuries ultimately left him disabled. In February 2024, the home of the Fomin family was searched. Vladimir was placed in a pretrial detention center. He experienced a lack of prescribed medication in detention; his chronic illnesses worsened. During one of the court hearings, he even lost consciousness, so an ambulance had to be called.
19.06.2025 – Another bill aimed at banning worship in residential buildings has been submitted to the State Duma
Sova – On June 16, 2025, the draft law “On Amendments to Articles 12 and 16 of the Federal Law “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations” was submitted to the State Duma. The bill prohibits public services, religious rites and ceremonies in residential and non-residential premises of apartment buildings.
According to the authors of the bill, groups of deputies, the fact that now public services in residential and non-residential premises of apartment buildings are allowed creates inconvenience for people living in these houses. That is, we are talking about worship services to which groups of people come, and not about a ban on residents to conduct private religious rites.
19.06.2025 – “Missionary activity” prosecutions January 2024 to April 2025
Forum 18- The 124 known prosecutions under Administrative Code Article 5.26, Part 4 (“Russians conducting missionary activity”) and Part 5 (“Foreigners conducting missionary activity”) between January 2024 and April 2025 are listed. First-instance courts (in one case police) convicted 107 defendants and acquitted three. They closed or returned a further 12 cases to police or prosecutors. Two cases which reached court after the permitted three-month period were dismissed. All but six of those convicted received fines. Most appeals were unsuccessful. Of 35 foreigners charged, 18 were ordered expelled from Russia.
In the 2024 calendar year and the first four months of 2025, there were at least 124 prosecutions across Russia under Administrative Code Article 5.26, Part 4 (“Russians conducting missionary activity”) and Part 5 (“Foreigners conducting missionary activity”), according to Forum 18’s review of available court records. The true number is believed to be higher.
17.06.2025 – Foreigners face summary expulsion for illegal “missionary activity”
Forum 18- On 5 February, amendments to the Administrative Code entered force allowing police – without having to go to court – to fine and expel from Russia foreign citizens who conduct “illegal missionary activity”. Forum 18 has so far found one such case. Among earlier cases, in October 2024, 85-year-old Catholic priest Władysław Kloc lost his appeal against a fine and expulsion for leading worship in his parish. Most known prosecutions of foreign citizens involve Muslims who appear to be Central Asian migrant workers.
While individuals and religious organisations are regularly brought to court on administrative charges of unlawful “missionary activity”, the impact on foreign citizens can be severe. Not only are they subject to higher fines than local citizens, they also risk expulsion from Russia. Such expulsions became easier in February, when amendments to the Administrative Code empowered police to conduct summary expulsions without the need for a court decision.
16.06.2025 – In Krasnodar Krai, the court sentenced Jehovah’s Witness Zinina
Sova – An elderly Jehovah’s Witness was sentenced to a suspended sentence under Art. 282.2 UK.
On June 11, 2025, the Vyselkovsky District Court of the Krasnodar Territory sentenced 74-year-old Jehovah’s Witness Lyudmila Zinina under Part 2 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code (participation in the activities of an extremist organization). She was sentenced to two years of suspended imprisonment, as well as six months of restriction of liberty.
16.06.2025 – In Severodvinsk, the “Word of Life” church was banned from holding worship services in its building
Sova – On June 14, 2025, it became known about the closure of the building of the Church of Evangelical Christians (Centecostal) “Word of Life” in Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk region.
This was preceded by a defamation campaign against the church and its pastor in social networks. In addition, the city administration received an anonymous denunciation, claiming that the church building was in an emergency condition.
The city administration forbade the church to hold services in the building, although there are no official documents confirming the emergency condition of the building, and the relevant inspections and examinations were not carried out.
The believers moved to the rented premises and appealed to the prosecutor’s office with a complaint about the actions of the authorities.
