Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Turkmenistan
Ethnic Group: Turkmen
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 1 Year's Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: January//2018
Date of Sentencing: January/29/2018
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Conscientious Objection Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Refusing & Absconding Military Service
Kerven Kakabayev
Extra Bio Info:
Kerven Kakabayev was imprisoned for refusing to serve in the military on religious grounds.
In January 2018, authorities arrested Kakabayev.
On January 29, 2018, Kakabayev was sentenced to one year in prison for "rejecting call-up to military service" (Art. 219-1 TCC).
On June 27, 2018, Kakabayev's appeal was denied.
On an unspecified date, Kakabayev was released from prison; however, it is likely that he was released on January 29, 2019, following the end of his sentence.
Publicly Available Information:
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Turkmenistan
Ethnic Group: Turkmen
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 4 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: March/14/2015
Date of Sentencing: May/19/2015
Date of Release: February/13/2019
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Hate Speech
Bahram Hemdemov
Extra Bio Info:
Bahram Hemdemov was imprisoned for his religious activity.
On March 14, 2015, authorities arrested Hemdemov following a raid on his home coinciding with a large worship meeting he was hosting. Police reportedly tortured him.
On May 19, 2015, Hemdemov was sentenced to four years in prison for "inciting social, ethnic or religious hatred using mass media" (Art. 177-2 TCC).
On February 13, 2019, Hemdemov was released.
Publicly Available Information:
Additional Name(s): Aleksey Vladimirovich Budenchuk, Буденчук Алексей, Буденчук Алексей Владимирович
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: July/6/2021
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
Aleksey Budenchuk
Extra Bio Info:
Aleksey Budenchuk was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On June 12, 2018, authorities detained Budenchuk following a raid on his home.
On June 21, 2018, Budenchuk 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 Budenchuk'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 Budenchuk to three years and six months in prison. He was taken into state custody following the trial.
On December 20, 2019, Budenchuk's appeal was rejected.
On February 4, 2020, Budenchuk was transferred to Correctional Colony No. 1 in the Orenburg Region.
On February 6, 2020, Budenchuk was reportedly attacked in prison.
On July 6, 2021, Budenchuk was released from prison.
Budenchuk is married with two children.
Related Cases: Aleksey Miretskiy, Konstantin Bazhenov, Gennadiy German, Roman Gridasov, Feliks Makhammadiyev
Publicly Available Information:
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Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"Aleksey Budenchuk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"Case of Bazhenov and Others in Saratov" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"Five Believers Were Beaten in the Orenburg Colony. Feliks Makhammadiev Has a Broken Rib, a Damaged Lung and Kidney" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"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