Additional Name(s): Olga Aleksandrovna Panyuta, Панюта Ольга Александровна
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Reduced to 4 Years, 4 Months' Imprisonment
Sentence: Originally 4 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: February/10/2023
Date of Sentencing: February/10/2023
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 Distributing Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Olga Panyuta is imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.
On November 25, 2018, authorities in Spassk-Dalniy detained Panyuta after searching the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses. Panyuta was accused of holding Jehovah's Witness meetings, distributing religious materials, and recruiting new members.
On November 27, 2018, Panyuta was placed under house arrest.
On November 19, 2019, Panyuta's house arrest was lifted.
On February 10, 2023, the Spassky District Court of Primorsky Krai sentenced Panyuta to four years and six months in prison for “recruiting…a person in the activities of an extremist organization” (Art. 282.2-1.1 RCC). She was taken into custody following the verdict.
On May 24, 2023, the Primorsky Regional Court reduced Panyuta's sentence to four years and four months in prison.
On October 16, 2023, the Ninth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction upheld Panyuta's most recent sentence.
Related Cases: Aleksey Trofimov, Dmitriy Malevaniy
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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