Additional Name(s): Rinat Ildusovish Kiramov, Кирамов Ринат Ильдусович

Gender: Male

Current Location: SIZO No. 1, Astrakhan

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: Yes

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: November/9/2021

Date of Sentencing: April/17/2023

Current Status: Not Released

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Religious Activity Religious Belief Singing, Playing, & Producing Religious Songs & Music

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism Illicit Financing

Rinat Kiramov

Extra Bio Info:

Rinat Kiramov is imprisoned for his religious activity and belief.

On November 9, 2021, authorities detained several individuals, including Kiramov, following raids on the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses in Akhtubinsk and Znamensk. They were accused of “organiz[ing] meetings... including using videoconferencing...namely, in the form of a collective religious service, consisting of public playback of audio recordings and video recordings... successively performing songs from a special collection of the religious teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses and prayers to the god Jehovah.”

On April 17, 2023, the Akhtubinskiy District Court sentenced Kiramov to seven years 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).

On August 31, 2023, the Astrakhan Regional Court upheld Kiramov's sentence.

On March 19, 2024, the Fourth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Krasnodar upheld Kiramov's sentence.

In June 2024, it was reported that Kiramov had been tortured while at the medical correctional institution No. 3 of the Tula region. According to Kiramov, several prisoners confronted him, demanding that he provide the names of Jehovah’s Witnesses living in Akhtubinsk. When Kiramov refused, he was beaten for several days, waterboarded, and electrocuted with a stun gun. Kiramov also alleged that he had been deprived of sleep and meals and prohibited from ordinary activities including sitting and daily hygiene habits.

Kiramov is married.

Related Cases: Sergey Korolev, Sergey Kosyanenko

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