Additional Name(s): Anatoli Pavlovich Zernichenko

Gender: Male

Current Location: Investigation Prison No. 11, Shymkent

Perpetrator: Kazakhstan

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: October/15/2021

Date of Sentencing: June/20/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Online Activity Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Incitement to Commit Crime & Violence Terrorism

Anatoli Zernichenko

Extra Bio Info:

Anatoli Zernichenko is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On October 15, 2021, authorities in Arys arrested Zernichenko for posting religious texts on Instagram and Telegram in 2020. He was accused of promoting terrorism. After the arrest, authorities searched Zernichenko’s home and another property and confiscated phones and religious books.

On June 20, 2022, the Arys District Court sentenced Zernichenko to seven years in prison for “promotion of terrorism or public calls for making of the act of terrorism…with use of mass media or networks of telecommunications” (Art. 256-2 KCC). He was also ordered to pay 55,560 tenges.

Zernichenko has reportedly not been allowed a Qur’an or other religious literature while in prison.

Zernichenko is married with one child.

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