Additional Name(s): Журавель Никита Сергеевич

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Unspecified

Reports of Torture: Yes

Sentence: 3 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: May/20/2023

Current Status: Not Released

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Other) Blasphemy (Religious Texts) Online Activity

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Criminal Premeditation & Conspiracy Public Disorder

Nikita Zhuravel

Extra Bio Info:

Nikita Zhuravel is imprisoned for blasphemy.

On May 20, 2023, authorities in the Volgograd region arrested 19-year-old Zhuravel after he allegedly posted a video online of himself burning a Qur’an with a mosque in the background and uttering words mocking Muslims. Authorities said Zhuravel had confessed to burning the Qur’an at the behest of Ukrainian security services. He was charged with "public actions expressing obvious disrespect for society and committed with the aim of insulting the religious feelings of believers...committed in places specially designated for holding divine services, other religious rites and ceremonies" (Art. 148-2 RCC). Zhuravel was later transferred to a pre-trial detention in Chechnya, where his case would be prosecuted, despite concerns for his safety and violating law.

In August 2023, Adam Kadyrov, the son of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, beat up Zhuravel in prison.

On September 25, 2023, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov posted a video of his son Adam Kadyrov assaulting Zhuravel in prison, calling what his son did the "right thing" to do.

On October 4, 2023, it was reported that Zhuravel had also been charged with hooliganism motivated by religious hatred or enmity (Art. 213-1 RCC) in addition to insulting religious feelings (Art. 148-2 RCC).

On October 12, 2023, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov posted a video of him meeting with Zhuravel, in which Zhuravel tells Kadyrov of his desire to study Islam and possibly convert. 

On February 27, 2024, the Visaitovsky District Court in Grozny sentenced Zhuravel to three years and six months in prison for  "public actions expressing obvious disrespect for society and committed with the aim of insulting the religious feelings of believers...committed in places specially designated for holding divine services, other religious rites and ceremonies" (Art. 148-2 RCC) and hooliganism committed by an organized group by prior conspiracy based on religious hatred and enmity (Art. 213-2 RCC). Reports indicate he was also sentenced to 300 hours of community service.

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