Additional Name(s): Nikolay Aleksandrovich Stepanov, Степанов Николай Александрович

Gender: Male

Current Location: Detention Center No. 2, Vologda

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 4 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: September/5/2022

Date of Sentencing: September/5/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

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

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Nikolay Stepanov

Extra Bio Info:

Nikolay Stepanov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On December 19, 2019, authorities in Vologda detained Stepanov following searches on the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses. Stepanov was accused of "convening meetings, organizing religious speeches and services at these meetings, distributing literature with extremist content, and collecting financial resources under the guise of donations.”

On August 13, 2020, Stepanov was placed under house arrest.

On September 25, 2020, Stepanov's house arrest was lifted.

On September 5, 2022, the Vologda City Court sentenced Stepanov to four 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). He was taken into custody following the verdict.

Stepanov is married with one child.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Valeriy Viktorovich Tibiy, Тибий Валерий Викторович

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: May/18/2022

Date of Sentencing: June/20/2023

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

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

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Valeriy Tibiy

Extra Bio Info:

Valeriy Tibiy was detained for his religious belief and activity.

On May 18, 2022, authorities detained Tibiy after searching his home in December 2021. He was accused of “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 June 20, 2023, the Taganrog City Court imposed a six-year suspended sentence on Tibiy. He was released following the verdict.

On August 23, 2023, the Rostov Regional Court upheld Tibiy's sentence.

Related Cases: Aleksandr Skvortsov

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Aleksander Skvortsov, Aleksandr Viktorovich Skvortsov, Скворцов Александр Викторович

Gender: Male

Current Location: SIZO No. 1, Grozny

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: December/7/2021

Date of Sentencing: June/20/2023

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 Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Aleksandr Skvortsov

Extra Bio Info:

Aleksandr Skvortsov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On December 7, 2021, authorities in Taganrog detained Skvortsov after searching his home. He was accused of organizing Jehovah's Witness activities. 

On June 20, 2023, the Taganrog City Court sentenced Skvortsov 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).

On August 23, 2023, the Rostov Regional Court upheld Skvortsov's sentence.

Skvortsov had previously received a suspended sentence for his religious belief and activity.

Related Cases: Valeriy Tibiy

Publicly Available Information:

 

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