Additional Name(s): Sergey Viktorovich Gromov, Громов Сергей Викторович

Gender: Male

Current Location: Detention Center No.1, Tatarstan

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 6 Years, 1 Month's Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: March/15/2022

Date of Sentencing: September/14/2023

Current Status: Not Released

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Sergey Gromov

Extra Bio Info:

Sergey Gromov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On March 15, 2022, authorities in Moscow arrested Gromov at an airport. The following day, his home was searched, and religious texts were confiscated.

On September 14, 2023, the Moskovsky District Court of Kazan sentenced Gromov to six years and one month 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). Investigators accused Gromov of holding religious services at his home.

On February 9, 2024, the Supreme Court of Tatarstan approved Gromov's sentence.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Anatoliy Vasiliyevich Gorbunov, Горбунов Анатолий Васильевич

Gender: Male

Current Location: Detention Center No.1, Krasnoyarsk

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/2/2022

Date of Sentencing: February/2/2022

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 Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Anatoliy Gorbunov

Extra Bio Info:

Anatoliy Gorbunov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On February 2, 2022, the Oktyabrsky District Court of Krasnoyarsk sentenced Gorbunov to six 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). Gorbunov was accused of holding religious meetings and having discussions about the Bible. He was taken into custody following the verdict.

On June 21, 2022, the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court upheld Gorbunov's sentence.

Gorbunov is married with two children. 

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Gevorg Levanovich Yeritsyan, Ерицян Геворг Леванович

Gender: Male

Current Location: Detention Centre No.3, Rostov-on-Don

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: August/11/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Gevorg Yeritsyan

Extra Bio Info:

Gevorg Yeritsyan is detained for his religious belief and activity.

On August 11, 2022, authorities in Novocherkassk arrested Yeritsyan following raids on the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses. Authorities reportedly confiscated Bibles, electronic devices, and more.

Related Cases: Garegin Khachaturyan, Lubov Galitsina

Publicly Available Information:
Subscribe to