Additional Name(s): Denis Petrovich Peresunko,

Gender: Male

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: September/23/2021

Date of Sentencing: September/23/2021

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 Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism Illicit Financing

Denis Peresunko

Extra Bio Info:

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

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