Additional Name(s): Aleksandr Vladimirovich Chagan, Чаган Александр Владимирович
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Sentence: 8 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: February/29/2024
Date of Sentencing: February/29/2024
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Online Activity Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Aleksandr Chagan is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On February 29, 2024, the Central District Court of Tolyatti in the Samara Region sentenced Chagan to eight years in prison for “organizing the activities of a public or religious association or other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-1 RCC). The charges are connected to Chagan's religious activities as a Jehovah's Witness. An undercover agent had secretly recorded small worship meetings held virtually. Chagan was taken into custody following the verdict.
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Chagan Aleksandr" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Chagan in Tolyatti" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"A court in Tolyatti Sent Aleksandr Chagan to a Penal Colony for Eight Years for Believing in Jehovah God" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Свидетеля Иеговы из Тольятти приговорили к восьми годам колонии" SOVA Center
Additional Name(s): Орлов Олег Петрович
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Unspecified
Sentence: 2 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: February/27/2024
Date of Sentencing: February/27/2024
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Human Rights Work for Religious Communities
Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Oleg Orlov is imprisoned in relation to his human rights work.
On February 27, 2024, the Golovinsky District Court in Moscow sentenced Orlov, the 70-year old co-chair of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights organization Memorial, to two years and six months in prison for "discrediting the Russian armed forces" (Art. 280.3-1 RCC) after he held several single-person protests opposing Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and authored an article criticizing Russia's invasion. Orlov's imprisonment comes amid a sweeping crackdown on Russian human rights organizations and defenders, including those working on religious freedom issues. Memorial under Orlov's tenure extensively documented, reported on, and defended FoRB prisoners of conscience in Russia and Russian-occupied Crimea. Orlov was taken into custody following the verdict.
"Орлов Олег Петрович" Memorial
USCIRF Press Release: USCIRF Urges Sanctions on Russian Officials Abusing FoRB Prisoners March 1, 2024
"Russia: Court Convicts Human Rights Leader in Sham Trial" Human Rights Watch (HRW)
"Russia Jails Veteran Human-Rights Campaigner for Denouncing Ukraine War" Wall Street Journal (WSJ)
"Memorial chairman sentenced to 2.5 years in jail for ‘discrediting’ Russian military" Novaya Gazeta Europe
"Олега Орлова приговорили к двум с половиной годам колонии" SOVA Center
"Правозащитника Олега Орлова приговорили к 2,5 годам колонии" Memorial
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Nicaragua
Religion or Belief: Unspecified
Date of Detainment: November/29/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Online Activity Religious Freedom Advocacy
Nature of Charges: Hate Speech
Freddy Quezada is imprisoned for criticizing religious freedom conditions.
On November 29, 2023, the Nicaraguan authorities arrested Quezada, a professor, after he criticized the Nicaraguan government's treatment of Bishop Rolando Álvarez on social media.
In January or February 2024, Quezada was found guilty of "incitement to hatred."