Additional Name(s): Vyacheslav Pavlovich Boronos, Боронос Вячеслав Павлович

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: February/15/2019

Date of Release: February/15/2019

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Religious Activity

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Vyacheslav Boronos

Extra Bio Info:

Vyacheslav Boronos was detained for his religious belief and activity.

On February 15, 2019, authorities arrested Boronos after raiding the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses in Surgut, Lyantor. Authorities accused him and his colleagues of "delivering speeches, engaging in the Witnesses' public preaching activity with local members, meeting with Bible education volunteers and appointed congregation assistants, and having as one objective the organizing of appointed men in the Vzlyotnove Congregation."  Authorities were investigating Boronos for allegedly “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) and “participating in the activities of a public or religious association, or any other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-2 RCC).

It is reported that while in custody, Boronos and his colleagues were electrocuted, strangled, and beaten. Boronos was released on recognizance afterwards.

On October 11, 2021, Boronos's trial began.

Boronos is married and has one child.

Related Cases: Artem Kim, Yevgeniy Fedin, Saveliy Gargalyk, Yevgeniy Kayryak

Publicly Available Information:

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

Extra Bio Info:

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

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Snezhana Yevgenyevna Bazhenova, Баженова Снежана Евгеньевна

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: August/19/2018

Date of Release: August/21/2018

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Snezhana Bazhenova

Extra Bio Info:

Snezhana Bazhenova was detained for her religious belief and activity.

On August 19, 2018, authorities arrested Bazhenova, an educator, after police raided her home.  

On August 21, 2018, Bazhenova was released. 

Later that month, Bazhenova was placed on recognizance. 

In November 2019, the Elizovsky District Court tried Bazhenova for allegedly “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 court sent the case back to prosecutors to review after not establishing sufficient grounds for prosecution.

On September 25, 2020, the Elizovsky District Court lightened the charged leveled against Bazhenova to “participating in the activities of a public or religious association, or any other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-2 RCC) and sentenced her to two years of suspended imprisonment, three years of probation, and six months of restricted freedom.  According to prosecutors, Bazhenova held religious services. 

On November 17, 2020, the Kamchatka Regional Court denied Bazhenova's appeal. 

On January 18, 2022 the Kamchatka Regional Court acquitted Bazhenova.

On January 31, 2023, the Kamchatka Territorial Court overturned Bazhenova's acquittal and re-imposed her two-year suspended sentence.

On September 12, 2023, the Ninth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Vladivostok upheld Bazhenova's suspended sentence.

Bazhenova is married. 

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