Additional Name(s): Viktor Valeriyevich Shayapov, Шаяпов Виктор Валерьевич

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: February/5/2022

Date of Release: November/7/2022

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

Viktor Shayapov

Extra Bio Info:

Viktor Shayapov was under house arrest for his religious belief and activity.

On February 5, 2022, authorities in Mozhaisk detained Shayapov. He was accused of participating in extremist activities.

On February 6, 2022, Shayapov was released from pretrial detention and placed under house arrest.

On November 7, 2022, the Nikolskiy District Court of the Penza Region sentenced Shayapov to two years of suspended imprisonment for “participating in the activities of a public or religious association, or any other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-2 RCC). Shayapov's house arrest was lifted following the verdict.

On May 31, 2023, the Judicial Chamber of the Penza Regional Court upheld Shayapov's sentence. 

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Vitaliy Sergeyevich Ushakov, Ушаков Виталий Сергеевич

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: February/13/2022

Date of Release: October/10/2022

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: House Arrest

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Vitaliy Ushakov

Extra Bio Info:

Vitaliy Ushakov was under house arrest for his religious belief and activity.

On February 13, 2022, authorities in Krasnodar detained Ushakov following raids on the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses in the villages of Vyselki and Berezanskaya. He and others were accused of organizing religious meetings and services and preaching.

In September 2022, Ushakov was released from pretrial detention and placed under house arrest.

On October 10, 2022, Ushakov's house arrest was reportedly lifted.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Valeriy Leonidovich Rabota, Работа Валерий Леонидович

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: March/3/2022

Date of Release: July/28/2022

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

Valeriy Rabota

Extra Bio Info:

Valeriy Rabota was under house arrest for his religious belief and activity.

On March 3, 2022, authorities in the Knyaz-Volkonsky rural settlement detained Rabota after searching Jehovah's Witness homes. He was accused of engaging in extremist activities.

On June 29, 2022, Rabota was released from pretrial detention and placed under house arrest.

On July 28, 2022, Rabota's house arrest was reportedly lifted.

Publicly Available Information:
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