Additional Name(s): Aleksei Berchuk, Aleksey Aleksandrovich Berchuk, Берчук Алексей, Берчук Алексей Александрович
Gender: Male
Current Location: IK No. 3, Mari El Republic
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 8 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: June/30/2021
Date of Release: June/30/2021
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Aleksey Berchuk is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On January 21, 2019, authorities arrested Berchuk at a Moscow airport. The next day, he was formally charged with “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).
On January 23, 2019, Berchuk was released and placed on recognizance.
On June 30, 2021, the Blagoveshchensk City Court of the Amur Region sentenced Berchuk to eight years in prison, one year and six months of restricted freedom, and a five-and-a-half-year prohibition of assuming governmental, organizational, and administrative positions. Berchuk was subsequently taken into state custody following the trial.
On September 2, 2021, Berchuk's sentence was upheld.
On December 15, 2021, Berchuk arrived at Penal Colony No. 3 in the Republic of Mari El.
Berchuk is married.
Related Cases: Dmitriy Golik
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Aleksey Berchuk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The Berchuk and Golik case in Blagoveshchensk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Breaks Records of Cruelty: in Blagoveshchensk, the Court Sentenced Believer Aleksey Berchuk to Eight Years in Prison and Dmitriy Golik to Seven Years" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia