Feb 12, 2021

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Russia is currently experiencing ongoing, widespread anti-corruption protests. These protests demonstrate the largest challenge to government control in almost a decade. Meanwhile, the State Duma recently put forth legislation which has significant implications for religious freedom.

Religious freedom conditions in Russia have deteriorated rapidly in recent years. In fact, USCIRF has released several reports over the past year detailing why Russia should be designated a country of particular concern for its egregious violations of religious freedom. This week’s discussion explains why USCIRF makes this recommendation, and how recent events there impact religious freedom conditions.

 

Featuring:

Dwight Bashir, Director of Outreach and Policy, USCIRF
Jason Morton, Senior Policy Analyst, USCIRF

Additional Name(s): Arslan Talgatovich Salimzyanov, Salimzyanov Arslan Talgatovich, Салимзянов Арслан Талгатович

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 16 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: May/19/2015

Date of Sentencing: April/5/2017

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

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

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Illicit Financing Terrorism

Arslan Salimzyanov

Extra Bio Info:

Arslan Salimzyanov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On May 19, 2015, authorities arrested Salimzyanov after accusing him of being a member of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization.  Prosecutors accused him of holding Hizb ut-Tahrir meetings, distributing organizational literature, trying to attract new members, and collecting funds to finance the organization.

On April 5, 2017, the Volga District Military Court sentenced Salimzyanov to 16 years in prison for "financing terrorist activities" (Art. 205.1-1 RCC) and "organizing the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist" (Art. 205.5-1 RCC).

Salimzyanov is married with two children.

Related Cases: Airat Shakirov, Rainur Ibatullin, Nail Yunusov

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Artur Raulevich Salimov, Salimov Artur Raulevich, Салимов Артур Раулевич

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 22 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February/4/2015

Date of Sentencing: July/30/2018

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Association Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Terrorism Treason & Sedition

Artur Salimov

Extra Bio Info:

Artur Salimov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On February 4, 2015, authorities arrested Salimov after accusing him of being a member of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. He was initially charged with “participating in the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist” (Art. 205.5-2 RCC).

In January 2016, Salimov was also charged with "preparing for actions aimed at the forcible seizure of power or the forcible retention of power” (Art. 30-1/Art. 278 RCC), and his previous charge was reclassified as "organizing the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist" (Art. 205.5-1 RCC).

On July 30, 2018, the Volga District Military Court sentenced Salimov to 22 years in prison and one year and six months of restricted freedom for "organizing the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist" (Art. 205.5-1 RCC) and "preparing for actions aimed at the forcible seizure of power or the forcible retention of power” (Art. 30-1/Art. 278 RCC). Salimov was also fined 600,000 rubles.

Publicly Available Information:
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