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. 

Additional Name(s): Konstantin Viktorovich Bazhenov, Баженов Константин, Баженов Константин Викторович

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: May/19/2021

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

Konstantin Bazhenov

Extra Bio Info:

Konstantin Bazhenov was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

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

On June 21, 2018, Bazhenov 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 Bazhenov'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 Bazhenov to three years and six months in prison. He was taken into state custody following the trial.

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

On February 4, 2020, Bazhenov was transferred to Correctional Colony No. 3 in the Ulyanovsk Region.

On May 15, 2020, Bazhenov was informed that his Russian citizenship had been revoked. 

On May 6, 2021, Bazhenov was released from prison but then placed in a temporary detention center for foreign citizens.

On May 19, 2021, authorities deported Bazhenov to Ukraine.

Bazhenov is married. 

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Additional Name(s): Vladimir Andreyevich Atrуakhin, Атряхин Владимир Андреевич

Gender: Male

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: August/25/2022

Date of Release: August/25/2022

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Proselytizing Activities Religious Activity

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Vladimir Atrуakhin

Extra Bio Info:

Vladimir Atrуakhin is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On February 6, 2019, authorities arrested Atrуakhin, a programmer, following a raid on his home.  He was taken to Detention Center No. 1 in the Republic of Mordovia.

On March 28, 2019, Atrуakhin was released from pre-trial detention on his own recognizance.

On March 31, 2021, Atrуakhin was officially 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).  He is reportedly accused of preaching in public places for the purposes of proselytization.

On August 25, 2022, the Leninskiy District Court of Saransk sentenced Atryakhin to six years in prison. He was taken into custody following the verdict. 

On January 16, 2023, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Mordovia upheld Atryakhin's sentence.

On October 17, 2023, the First Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Saratov upheld Atryakhin's sentence.

Atrуakhin is married with two children.

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