Additional Name(s): Vladimir Yuriyevich Skachidub, Скачидуб Владимир Юрьевич

Gender: Male

Current Location: Penal Colony No. 6, Ryazan

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Health Concerns: Disability

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 4 Years, 2 Months' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: October/11/2021

Date of Sentencing: October/11/2021

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Vladimir Skachidub

Extra Bio Info:

Vladimir Skachidub is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On October 11, 2021, the Pavlovskiy District Court of the Krasnodar Territory sentenced Skachidub to four years and two months in prison reportedly 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) 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). Investigators said that Skachidub "... participated in religious sermons, during which... conducted and listened to lectures based on religious literature, entered into conversations and religious discussions, and participated in collective discussions of the content of religious books." Skachidub was taken into custody following the verdict.

On April 20, 2022, the Krasnodar Regional Court upheld Skachidub's sentence.

Skachidub is disabled. 

Skachidub is married. 

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Viktor Vladimirovich Stashevskiy, Сташевский Виктор Владимирович

Gender: Male

Current Location: Penal Colony No. 9, Krasnodar

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 6 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: March/29/2021

Date of Sentencing: March/29/2021

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Viktor Stashevskiy

Extra Bio Info:

Viktor Stashevskiy is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On March 29, 2021, the Gagarinsky District Court of Sevastopol, Crimea, Ukraine, sentenced Stashevskiy to six years and six months 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). Stashevskiy was accused of "promoting the ideas of Jehovah's Witnesses, holding meetings, holding religious performances." Stashevskiy was taken into custody following the verdict.

On August 10, 2021, the Sevastopol City Court rejected upheld Stashevskiy's sentence.

Stashevskiy is married with two children.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Rustam Ataevich Seidkuliev, Сеидкулиев Рустам Атаевич

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Reduced to 2 Years, 4 Months' Imprisonment

Sentence: Originally 2 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: May/20/2021

Date of Sentencing: May/20/2021

Date of Release: April/7/2023

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Rustam Seidkuliev

Extra Bio Info:

Rustam Seidkuliev was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On February 15, 2020, the Adler police detained Seidkuliev.

On February 22, 2020, the Leninsky District Court of Saratov replaced Seidkuliev's pretrial detention with house arrest.

On September 25, 2020, Seidkuliev's house arrest was lifted.

On May 20, 2021, the Leninskiy District Court of Saratov sentenced Seidkuliev to two years and six months in prison for “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). Prosecutors accused him of attending worship services and talking about God with others. Seidkuliev was taken into custody following the verdict.

On August 5, 2021, the Saratov Regional Court reduced Seidkuliev's sentence by two months, making it two years and four months in prison.

On April 7, 2023, Seidkuliev was released from prison after completing his sentence.

On June 19, 2023, authorities detained Seidkuliev again after a decision was made to revoke his Russian citizenship and deport him. He was placed in a temporary detention center for foreign citizens

On September 17, 2023, the Federal Migration Service deported Seidkuliev to Turkmenistan.

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