Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Turkmenistan

Ethnic Group: Turkmen

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 4 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: March/14/2015

Date of Sentencing: May/19/2015

Date of Release: February/13/2019

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

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

Nature of Charges: Hate Speech

Bahram Hemdemov

Extra Bio Info:

Bahram Hemdemov was imprisoned for his religious activity.

On March 14, 2015, authorities arrested Hemdemov following a raid on his home coinciding with a large worship meeting he was hosting.  Police reportedly tortured him.

On May 19, 2015, Hemdemov was sentenced to four years in prison for "inciting social, ethnic or religious hatred using mass media" (Art. 177-2 TCC).

On February 13, 2019, Hemdemov was released.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Aleksey Vladimirovich Budenchuk, Буденчук Алексей, Буденчук Алексей Владимирович

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 3 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: September/19/2019

Date of Sentencing: September/19/2019

Date of Release: July/6/2021

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Aleksey Budenchuk

Extra Bio Info:

Aleksey Budenchuk was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On June 12, 2018, authorities detained Budenchuk following a raid on his home. 

On June 21, 2018, Budenchuk was 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 May 20, 2019, the Frunzensky District Court of Saratov ordered Budenchuk's release and prohibited him from leaving his home at night and communicating with those involved in the case via telephone and internet.

On September 19, 2019, the Leninskiy District Court of Saratov sentenced Budenchuk to three years and six months in prison. He was taken into state custody following the trial.

On December 20, 2019, Budenchuk's appeal was rejected.

On February 4, 2020, Budenchuk was transferred to Correctional Colony No. 1 in the Orenburg Region.

On February 6, 2020, Budenchuk was reportedly attacked in prison.

On July 6, 2021, Budenchuk was released from prison.

Budenchuk is married with two children.

Related Cases: Aleksey Miretskiy, Konstantin Bazhenov, Gennadiy German, Roman Gridasov, Feliks Makhammadiyev

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Andrey Garafetanovich Stupnikov, Ступников Андрей Гарафетанович

Gender: Male

Current Location: Detention Center No. 1, Kirov

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 6 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: June/3/2021

Date of Sentencing: June/3/2021

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

Andrey Stupnikov

Extra Bio Info:

Andrey Garafetanovich Stupnikov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On July 3, 2018, authorities detained Stupnikov at the Yemelyanovo airport in Krasnoyarsk.

On February 28, 2019, Stupnikov was placed under house arrest.

On July 2, 2019, Stupnikov's house arrested order was lifted.  He was subsequently banned from communicating with those involved in the case and from using the mail and internet.

On June 3, 2021, the Krasnoyarsk Zheleznodorozhny District Court sentenced Stupnikov to six 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).  He was subsequently taken into state custody following the trial. 

On September 21, 2021, Stupnikov's sentence was upheld. 

Stupnikov is married. 

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