Additional Name(s): Vladimir Vladimirovich Ermolaev, Ермолаев Владимир Владимирович
Gender: Male
Current Location: Penal Colony No. 3, Trans-Baikal Territory
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 6 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: June/6/2022
Date of Sentencing: June/6/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Vladimir Ermolaev
Extra Bio Info:
Vladimir Ermolaev is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On February 10, 2020, authorities in Chita detained Ermolaev following raids of the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses.
On February 12, 2020, Ermolaev was placed under house arrest.
On April 3, 2020, Ermolaev's house arrest order was lifted.
On June 6, 2022, the Central District Court of Chita sentenced Ermolaev to six years and six 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). Ermolaev was accused of being involved in religious services and other religious activities. He was taken into custody following the verdict.
On September 20, 2022, the Trans-Baikal Territory Court upheld Ermolaev's sentence.
On March 7, 2023, the Eighth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Kemerovo upheld Ermolaev's sentence.
Ermolaev is married.
Related Cases: Igor Mamalimov, Aleksandr Putintsev
Sources:
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Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"Vladimir Ermolaev" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"The case of Ermolaev and others in Chita" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"The Cassation Did Not Change the Conviction of Four Believers From Chita. Three Will Spend in Penal Colonies From Six to Six and a Half Years" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"Appeal in Chita Affirms Harsh Sentence for Jehovah's Witnesses: Six Years in Prison for Three of Them and Six Years Suspended for One" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"A Chita Court Sentenced Three Jehovah's Witnesses to Sentences Ranging From Six to Six-and-a-Half Years in Prison; Another Received a Suspended Sentence for Believing in God" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Additional Name(s): Igor Rafitovich Mamalimov, Мамалимов Игорь Рафитович
Gender: Male
Current Location: SIZO No. 1, Trans-Baikal Territory
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 6 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: June/6/2022
Date of Sentencing: June/6/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Igor Mamalimov
Extra Bio Info:
Igor Mamalimov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On June 6, 2022, the Central District Court of Chita sentenced Mamalimov to six 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). Mamalimov was accused of being involved in religious services and other religious activities. He was taken into custody following the verdict.
On September 20, 2022, the Trans-Baikal Territory Court upheld Mamalimov's sentence.
On March 7, 2023, the Eighth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Kemerovo upheld Mamalimov's sentence.
Mamalimov is married with three children.
Related Cases: Vladimir Ermolaev, Aleksandr Putintsev
Sources:
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Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"Igor Mamalimov" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"The case of Ermolaev and others in Chita" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"The Cassation Did Not Change the Conviction of Four Believers From Chita. Three Will Spend in Penal Colonies From Six to Six and a Half Years" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"Appeal in Chita Affirms Harsh Sentence for Jehovah's Witnesses: Six Years in Prison for Three of Them and Six Years Suspended for One" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"A Chita Court Sentenced Three Jehovah's Witnesses to Sentences Ranging From Six to Six-and-a-Half Years in Prison; Another Received a Suspended Sentence for Believing in God" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Additional Name(s): Sergey Ivanovich Kosyanenko, Косьяненко Сергей Иванович
Gender: Male
Current Location: SIZO No. 1, Astrakhan
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: November/9/2021
Date of Sentencing: April/17/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
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
Sergey Kosyanenko
Extra Bio Info:
Sergey Kosyanenko is imprisoned for his religious activity and belief.
On November 9, 2021, authorities detained several individuals, including Kosyanenko, 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 Kosyanenko 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 Kosyanenko's sentence.
On March 19, 2024, the Fourth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Krasnodar upheld Kosyanenko's sentence.
Kosyanenko is married.
Related Cases: Rinat Kiramov, Sergey Korolev
Sources:
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Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"Sergey Kosyanenko" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"The Regional Court in Astrakhan Upheld the Harsh Sentence of Three Believers from Akhtubinsk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom Conditions in the Russian Federation July 2023
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"В Ахтубинске трое Свидетелей Иеговы получили по семь лет лишения свободы" SOVA Center
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"A Court in Akhtubinsk Sentenced Three of Jehovah's Witnesses to 7 Years in Prison for Talking About the Bible" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"Three Believers Detained After Searches in the Astrakhan Region" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia