Additional Name(s): отця Андрія, Чуя Андрея Васильевича

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Orthodox

Date of Detainment: September/18/2023

Date of Release: March//2024

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization

Andriy Chuy

Extra Bio Info:

Andriy Chuy was detained for his religious belief and activity.

On September 18, 2023, Russian authorities in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region of Ukraine detained Chuy, a priest of the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), under unclear circumstances. OCU Metropolitan Bishop of Donetsk and Mariupol Serhiy Horobtsov said Chuy had continued to engage in religious activities following Russian-backed separatists gaining control of parts of the Donetsk region in 2014. The bishop also alleged that Russian de facto authorities had pressured Chuy to transfer to the Moscow Patriarchate. 

On October 3, 2023, Russian state media reported that a court in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region fined Chuy 30,000 Russian rubles and expelled him from the Russian-occupied Donetsk region for violating Russia's religion law (Art. 5.26-5 RAC) by being a religious leader in the "extremist" and "anti-Russian" OCU, expressing support for Ukraine, and inciting hatred on religious and national grounds. However, OCU Metropolitan Bishop of Donetsk and Mariupol Serhiy Horobtsov claimed that Chuy had not been expelled from Russian-occupied Donetsk and that relatives of the priest-who had visited him in a Donetsk pretrial detention center-had received information that he was being transferred to Russia. The bishop alleged that Russian authorities would pressure Chuy to transfer to the Moscow Patriarchate.

In January 2024, Forum 18 reported that Chuy was being held in a deportation center for foreigners near Rostov-on-Don, Russia.

In March 2024, Russia deported Chuy to Georgia.

Related Cases: Khrystofor Khrimli

Sources:

Additional Name(s): Viacheslav Khrimli, Отця Христофора, Хримли Вячеслава Евгеньевича

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Orthodox

Date of Detainment: September/18/2023

Date of Release: February//2024

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization

Khrystofor Khrimli

Extra Bio Info:

Khrystofor Khrimli was detained for his religious belief and activity.

On September 18, 2023, Russian authorities in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region of Ukraine detained Khrimli, a priest of the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), under unclear circumstances. OCU Metropolitan Bishop of Donetsk and Mariupol Serhiy Horobtsov said Khrimli had continued to engage in religious activities following Russian-backed separatists gaining control of parts of the Donetsk region in 2014. The bishop also alleged that Russian de facto authorities had pressured Khrimli to transfer to the Moscow Patriarchate. 

On October 3, 2023, Russian state media reported that a court in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region fined Khrimli 30,000 Russian rubles and expelled him from the Russian-occupied Donetsk region for violating Russia's religion law (Art. 5.26-5 RAC) by being a religious leader in the "extremist" and "anti-Russian" OCU, expressing support for Ukraine, and inciting hatred on religious and national grounds. However, OCU Metropolitan Bishop of Donetsk and Mariupol Serhiy Horobtsov claimed that Khrimli had not been expelled from Russian-occupied Donetsk and that relatives of the priest-who had visited him in a Donetsk pretrial detention center-had received information that he was being transferred to Russia. The bishop alleged that Russian authorities would pressure Khrimli to transfer to the Moscow Patriarchate.

In January 2024, Forum 18 reported that Khrimli was being held in a deportation center for foreigners near Rostov-on-Don, Russia.

In February 2024, Russia deported Khrimli to Georgia.

Related Cases: Andriy Chuy

Sources:

Oct 3, 2023

USCIRF Reiterates Concerns on Religious Freedom in India, Calls for Release of Religious Prisoners of Conscience

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) held a hearing on “Advancing Religious Freedom within the U.S. - India Bilateral Relationship,” which highlighted the Indian government’s legal framework and enforcement of discriminatory policies against religious minorities. Witnesses gave testimony exploring policy options for the United States to work with India to combat religious freedom violations and other related human rights in the country.

"Religious freedom conditions in India have notably declined in recent years,” said USCIRF Chair Abraham Cooper. “Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Dalits, and Adivasis are experiencing increased levels of attacks and acts of intimidation. Authorities have continued to suppress minority voices and those advocating on their behalf. These trends, and their implication for U.S. foreign policy, should not be ignored.”

USCIRF’s Frank. R Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List, a public database of individuals known to have been detained on the basis of the peaceful exercise of their freedom of religion or belief, includes 37 individuals across multiple faiths imprisoned in India.

“During the hearing, we brought attention to Meeran Haider and Rupesh Singh, both of whom are detained for protesting religious freedom conditions. Haider was targeted for leading peaceful protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and was charged with offenses under the UAPA. Singh is a freelance journalist known for his reporting on state violence and discrimination against Adivasis. He has been detained since July 2022, also under the UAPA,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Frederick A. Davie. “USCIRF calls on the Indian government to evaluate these cases and to release all prisoners of conscience and those detained for peacefully expressing their religion or belief.”

Since 2020, USCIRF has recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate India as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for its systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom. This past June, USCIRF urged President Joseph R. Biden to address concerning issues of religious freedom and other related human rights in India during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit. USCIRF also highlighted the violence against the tribal Christians in Manipur in a Spotlight Podcast episode and published an issue update on India’s state-level anti-conversion laws, providing further context on India’s use of these laws to target religious minorities.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].

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