Additional Name(s): Sergey Vladimirovich Kosteyev, Костеев Сергей Владимирович
Gender: Male
Current Location: Detention Centre No. 1, Irkutsk
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: October/4/2021
Date of Sentencing: March/5/2024
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Praying Religious Activity Religious Belief Singing, Playing, & Producing Religious Songs & Music
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism Illicit Financing
Sergey Kosteyev
Extra Bio Info:
Sergey Kosteyev is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On October 4, 2021, authorities in Irkutsk detained Kosteyev following raids on the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses. Investigators had reportedly opened a criminal case against him following secret audio recordings of worship services which included participants praying, singing, and reading the Bible.
On March 5, 2024, the Oktyabrskiy District Court of Irkutsk sentenced Kosteyev to seven years 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) and “collecting funds…intended to finance the organization, preparation and commission of at least one of the crimes of an extremist orientation, or to ensure the activities of an extremist community or an extremist organization” (Art. 282.3-1 RCC).
Related Cases: Yaroslav Kalin, Nikolay Martynov, Mikhail Moysh, Igor Popov, Denis Sarazhakov, Aleksey Solnechny, Andrey Tolmachev, Sergey Vasilyev
Publicly Available Information:
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Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"Sergey Kosteyev" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"The case of Martynov and Others in Irkutsk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"В Иркутске Свидетелей Иеговы приговорили к лишению свободы на сроки от трех до семи лет" SOVA Center
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"Nine of Jehovah's Witnesses from Irkutsk Received 3 to 7 Years of Imprisonment for Their Faith" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"In the Irkutsk Region, the Officials Conducts Searches in the Families of Jehovah's Witnesses" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Additional Name(s): Yaroslav Vasiliyevich Kalin, Калин Ярослав Васильевич
Gender: Male
Current Location: Detention Centre No. 1, Irkutsk
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: October/4/2021
Date of Sentencing: March/5/2024
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Praying Religious Activity Religious Belief Singing, Playing, & Producing Religious Songs & Music
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism Illicit Financing
Yaroslav Kalin
Extra Bio Info:
Yaroslav Kalin is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On October 4, 2021, authorities in Irkutsk detained Kalin following raids on the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses. Investigators had reportedly opened a criminal case against him following secret audio recordings of worship services which included participants praying, singing, and reading the Bible.
On March 5, 2024, the Oktyabrskiy District Court of Irkutsk sentenced Kalin to seven years 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) and “collecting funds…intended to finance the organization, preparation and commission of at least one of the crimes of an extremist orientation, or to ensure the activities of an extremist community or an extremist organization” (Art. 282.3-1 RCC).
Related Cases: Sergey Kosteyev, Nikolay Martynov, Mikhail Moysh, Igor Popov, Denis Sarazhakov, Aleksey Solnechny, Andrey Tolmachev, Sergey Vasilyev
Publicly Available Information:
-
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
-
"Yaroslav Kalin" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
-
"The case of Martynov and Others in Irkutsk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
-
"В Иркутске Свидетелей Иеговы приговорили к лишению свободы на сроки от трех до семи лет" SOVA Center
-
"Nine of Jehovah's Witnesses from Irkutsk Received 3 to 7 Years of Imprisonment for Their Faith" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
-
"In the Irkutsk Region, the Officials Conducts Searches in the Families of Jehovah's Witnesses" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Oct 11, 2022
On September 16th, Iran’s morality police arrested 22-year old Mahsa Amini for wearing improper hijab. The morality police reportedly beat Amini until she suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and a stroke. Upon learning of her death days later at a hospital in Tehran, Iranians across the country took to the streets in protest of the government’s brutal repression. Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iran has mandated the hijab in public spaces for women on religious grounds. These laws have been met since that time by peaceful protests, often led by women. Iran’s government has put down these protests by force and is actively doing so now. Iranian security officials are also arresting and beating to death in custody girls who protest mandatory hijab, including Nika Shakarami and Sarina Esmailzadeh.
Marjan Keypour Greenblatt, founder of the ARAM Alliance, joins us today to discuss the interconnection between religious freedom and women’s rights in Iran.