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Atash Shahkarami was detained for speaking out about the disappearance and murder of an anti-hijab protester.

On October 2, 2022, security forces arrested Shahkarami after she spoke with the BBC and posted on social media about the disappearance and murder of her niece, Nika Shahkarami. Nika Shahkarami, a 16-year-old student, went missing on September 20, 2022, after participating in anti-hijab protests. 10 days after her disappearance, Nika’s body was found in a morgue in Tehran, and her family was reportedly not allowed access to her body. Security agents had reportedly been chasing Nika the day of her disappearance, and Atash told the BBC that the Revolutionary Guard had admitted to having her in their custody. Prior to her burial scheduled for October 3, 2022, security forces reportedly “stole” Nika’s body and buried her in another town.  Following Atash’s arrest, sources indicate that security forces threatened to kill her if anyone from their family took part in the nationwide protests.

On October 5, 2022, Atash Shahkarami and her husband, Mohsen Shahkarami, appeared on a state TV report making statements confirming the government’s narrative about Nika’s death. It is reported that security forces threatened to kill their family if the two did not make these statements or confess.

On October 9, 2022, it was reported that Shahkarami had been released.

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Aleksandr Ivshin is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On February 10, 2021, the Abinsk District Court of Krasnodar sentenced Ivshin to seven years and six months 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). Authorities accused him of discussing the Bible with friends and organizing online religious services that included singing religious songs. Ivshin was taken into custody following the verdict. 

On April 15, 2021, the Krasnodar Regional Court upheld Ivshin's sentence.

Ivshin reportedly contracted COVID-19 while in state custody before being transferred to a prison.

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Denis Peresunko is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On August 21, 2019, authorities in Volgograd arrested Peresunko in connection to a group of Jehovah's Witnesses reportedly accused of participating in “mass events to watch, listen to, and discuss audio and video materials propagating the cult of religious superiority of the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” 

On August 27, 2019, investigators interrogated Peresunko in relation to charges of “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) 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).

On November 22, 2019, investigators interrogated Peresunko in relation to charges 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) 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).

On December 26, 2019, Peresunko was released.

On September 23, 2021, the Traktorozavodsky District Court of Volgograd sentenced Peresunko to six years and three months 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). Peresunko was taken into custody following the verdict.

On March 18, 2022, the Volgograd Regional Court upheld Peresunko's sentence.

On January 19, 2023, the Fourth General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation in Krasnodar upheld Peresunko's sentence. 

Related Cases: Igor Egozaryan, Sergey Melnik, Valeriy Rogozin