Additional Name(s): Leysan Raushanovna Bochkareva, Бочкарёва Лейсан Раушановна

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: January/19/2020

Date of Release: February/20/2023

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: House Arrest

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Leysan Bochkareva

Extra Bio Info:

Leysan Bochkareva was under house arrest for her religious belief and activity.

On January 19, 2020, authorities in Kazan detained Bochkareva after searching the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses.

On January 21, 2020, Bochkareva was placed under house arrest.

On February 20, 2023, the Vakhitovsky District Court of Kazan sentenced Bochkareva to two years and six months of suspended imprisonment 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). Bochkareva's house arrest was lifted following the verdict. 

On November 1, 2023, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Tatarstan upheld Bochkareva's sentence.

Related Cases: Tatyana Obizhestvit

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Additional Name(s): Sergey Viktorovich Ananin, Ананин Сергей Викторович

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: February/14/2021

Date of Sentencing: March/31/2023

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 Online Activity Praying Religious Activity Religious Belief Singing, Playing, & Producing Religious Songs & Music

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Sergey Ananin

Extra Bio Info:

Sergey Ananin is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On February 14, 2021, authorities in Belovo detained Ananin after searching the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses. He was accused of organizing religious meetings through video conference and holding conversations to promote his religion's activities.

On February 15, 2021, Ananin 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 February 16, 2021, Ananin was placed under house arrest.

On March 31, 2023, the Belovo City Court of the Kemerovo Region sentenced Ananin to six years in prison. He was taken into custody following the verdict. 

On June 14, 2023, the Kemerovo Regional Court upheld Ananin's sentence.

On January 30, 2024, the Eighth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Kemerovo upheld his sentence.

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Additional Name(s): Mariya Viktorovna Karpova, Карпова Мария Викторовна

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: June/1/2019

Date of Sentencing: November/25/2022

Date of Release: November/25/2022

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: House Arrest

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

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Mariya Karpova

Extra Bio Info:

Mariya Karpova was under house arrest for her religious belief and activity. 

On June 1, 2019, authorities detained several Jehovah's Witnesses, including Karpova, following searches on their homes.  They were accused of organizing religious gatherings and studying and discussing religious materials.

On April 30, 2020, Karpova 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) and “recruiting…a person in the activities of an extremist organization” (Art. 282.2-1.1 RCC).

On May 27, 2020, Karpova was released from pretrial detention and placed under house arrest.

On November 25, 2022, the Kirovskiy District Court of Makhachkala imposed a six years' suspended sentence on Karpova.
She was released from house arrest following the verdict. 

Related Cases: Marat Abdulgalimov, Arsen Abdullaev, Anton Dergalev

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