Additional Name(s): Anton Yuriyevich Olshevskiy, Ольшевский Антон Юрьевич
Gender: Male
Current Location: Detention Center No. 1, Amur Region
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 6 Years, 3 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: December/21/2022
Date of Sentencing: December/21/2022
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 Praying Religious Activity Religious Belief Singing, Playing, & Producing Religious Songs & Music
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Anton Olshevskiy is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On December 21, 2022, the Blagoveshchensk City Court of the Amur Region sentenced Olshevskiy 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). Olshevskiy and others were accused of Jehovah's Witness religious activities, including reading the Bible, praying, singing religious songs and discussing religious teachings. Olshevskiy was taken into custody following the verdict.
On May 11, 2023, the Amur Regional Court upheld Olshevskiy's sentence.
On September 26, 2023, the Ninth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Vladivostok upheld Olshevskiy's sentence.
Related Cases: Sergey Afanasiyev, Sergey Kardakov, Adam Svarichevskiy, Sergey Yermilov
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Anton Olshevskiy" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Olshevsky and others in Blagoveshchensk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The Court of Cassation Upheld the Decisions of the Lower Courts Regarding Five Believers from the City of Blagoveshchensk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"An appeal in Blagoveshchensk upheld the sentence of five Jehovah's Witnesses - more than 6 years in prison for their beliefs" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"A Court in Blagoveshchensk Sentenced Five of Jehovah's Witnesses to More Than 6 Years in prison. Religious Meetings and Talks Are Viewed as a Crime" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia