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 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.
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Snezhana Bazhenova" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of the Bazhenovs and Others in Yelizovo" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The Court of Cassation in Vladivostok Upheld the Conviction of Believers From Yelizovo" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The Appeal Did Not Change the Sentence of the Kamchatka Believers. School Teachers and a Pensioner Will Be Conditionally Deprived of Their Liberty for Two Years" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"In Yelizovo in Kamchatka, Another Trial of Peaceful Believers Began. An Accountant and Two Teachers Are Tried for Extremism" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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 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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Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Konstantin Bazhenov" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Bazhenov and Others in Saratov" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Konstantin Bazhenov, Who Had Served His Sentence for Faith, Deported From Russia to Ukraine" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Konstantin Bazhenov, Convicted for His Faith, Released From the Colony, but Detained for Deportation" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"From 2 to 3.5 Уears in Prison for Faith. Real Jail Term Sentences in Saratov for Jehovah's Witnesses" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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 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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