Additional Name(s): Valeriy Anatoliyevich Rogozin, Рогозин Валерий Анатольевич

Gender: Male

Current Location: Penal Colony No 6, Udmurtia

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 6 Years, 5 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

Valeriy Rogozin

Extra Bio Info:

Valeriy Rogozin is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On May 16, 2019, authorities in Volgograd arrested several Jehovah's Witnesses, including Rogozin. They were 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.” Rogozin was charged with “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).

On November 22, 2019, Rogozin 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) instead 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).

On December 26, 2019, Rogozin was released.

On September 23, 2021, the Traktorozavodsky District Court of Volgograd sentenced Rogozin to six years and five 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). Rogozin was taken into custody following the verdict.

On March 18, 2022, the Volgograd Regional Court upheld Rogozin's sentence.

On January 19, 2023, the Fourth General Jurisdiction Court of Cassation in Krasnodar upheld Rogozin's sentence. 

Related Cases: Igor Egozaryan, Sergey Melnik, Denis Peresunko

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