Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Nicaragua
Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic
Date of Detainment: December/26/2023
Date of Release: January/14/2024
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Pablo Villafranca was detained for his religious activity and his religious leadership role.
On December 26, 2023, Nicaraguan authorities detained Villafranca, a priest at the Parish of Our Lord of Veracruz, in the morning and released him in the afternoon. However, police re-arrested Villafranca a few hours after his release. Villafranca was known to pray for the wrongfully imprisoned Bishop Rolando Álvarez. His arrest and re-arrest also come amid a crackdown on the Catholic Church in Nicaragua.
On January 14, 2024, Villafranca was released from prison and exiled to the Vatican.
Additional Name(s): Чеколаев Кирилл Васильевич
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Date of Detainment: December/7/2023
Date of Release: May/3/2024
Current Status: Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Kirill Chekolaev was detained for his religious belief and activity.
On December 7, 2023, authorities in Vladivostok detained Chekolaev after searching several Jehovah's Witness homes. Law enforcement reportedly interrogated Jehovah's Witnesses about their religious beliefs and activities. Chekolaev is under investigation 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).
On May 3, 2024, Chekolaev was released from pretrial detention.
Related Cases: Yuriy Bycha, Sergey Novoselov, Yegor Pogrebnyak
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Kirill Chekolaev" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The case of Byche and Others in Vladivostok" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Мы считаем политзаключённым свидетеля Иеговы из Владивостока" Memorial
"Believers Were Searched in Vladivostok. One Was Beaten, the Other Was Arrested" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Gender: Unspecified
Perpetrator: Nicaragua
Religion or Belief: Unspecified
Sentence: 6 Years Imprisonment
Date of Sentencing: December/24/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Managing a Religious Institution Religious Activity Religious Association
Nature of Charges: Embezzlement & Fraud
Mariví Andino is imprisoned for their association with a religious organization.
In 2023, Nicaraguan authorities detained Andino, a former employee of the Catholic charity Caritas in the Diocese of Estelí, under unclear circumstances. Andino's arrest came amid intensified crackdowns on the Catholic Church in Nicaragua.
On December 24, 2023, the government convicted Andino on dubious money laundering charges in relation to their work with Caritas and sentenced them to six years' imprisonment. The government has a pattern of baselessly alleging non-governmental organizations and their employees, including Catholic charitable and educational institutions, are failing to comply with various financial laws as a pretext to shutter them.
Related cases: Julio Sevilla, Julio Berríos, Bladimir Pallés, María Verónica Herrera Galeano, Freydell Andino