Anton Virich
Additional Name(s): Вирич Антон Александрович
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Sentence: 6 Years, 2 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: July/11/2023
Date of Sentencing: April/25/2024
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Anton Virich
Extra Bio Info:
Anton Virich is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On July 11, 2023, authorities in Uzhur detained Virich and subsequently disappeared him for nine days until friends found him in the Spassk-Dalniy detention center. He was charged with “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 April 25, 2024, the Pozharsky District Court sentenced Virich to six years and two months in prison.
Sources:
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Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"Anton Virich" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"Вирич Антон Александрович" Memorial
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"A Court in Primorye Territory Sent One of Jehovah's Witnesses Anton Virich to a Penal Colony for Six Years" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"One of Jehovah's Witnesses Anton Virich Was Arrested in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. He Was Taken to a Detention Center 5,000 Kilometers From the Place of Arrest" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia