Additional Name(s): Sergey Nikolayevich Yermilov,

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Russia

Sentence: 6 Years, 3 Months' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: December/21/2022

Date of Sentencing: December/21/2022

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 Praying Religious Activity Religious Belief Singing, Playing, & Producing Religious Songs & Music

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Sergey Yermilov

Extra Bio Info:

Sergey Yermilov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On December 21, 2022, the Blagoveshchensk City Court of the Amur Region sentenced Yermilov to six years and three 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). Yermilov and others were accused of Jehovah's Witness religious activities, including reading the Bible, praying, singing religious songs and discussing religious teachings. Yermilov was taken into custody following the verdict. 

On May 11, 2023, the Amur Regional Court upheld Yermilov's sentence.

On September 26, 2023, the Ninth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Vladivostok upheld Yermilov's sentence.

Related Cases: Sergey AfanasiyevSergey KardakovAnton OlshevskiyAdam Svarichevskiy

Additional Name(s): Sergey Alekseyevich Kardakov, Кардаков Сергей Алексеевич

Gender: Male

Current Location: Detention Center No. 1, Amur Region

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 6 Years, 4 Months' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: December/21/2022

Date of Sentencing: December/21/2022

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 Praying Religious Activity Religious Belief Singing, Playing, & Producing Religious Songs & Music

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Sergey Kardakov

Extra Bio Info:

Sergey Kardakov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On December 21, 2022, the Blagoveshchensk City Court of the Amur Region sentenced Kardakov to six years and four 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). Kardakov and others were accused of Jehovah's Witness religious activities, including reading the Bible, praying, singing religious songs and discussing religious teachings. Kardakov was taken into custody following the verdict. 

On May 11, 2023, the Amur Regional Court upheld Kardakov's sentence.

On September 26, 2023, the Ninth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Vladivostok upheld Kardakov's sentence.

Related Cases: Sergey AfanasiyevAnton OlshevskiyAdam SvarichevskiySergey Yermilov

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: China

Ethnic Group: Tibetan

Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Tibetan

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Adherence to a Religious Figure Discussing Religion & Religious Texts

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Rongwo Gangkar

Extra Bio Info:

Rongwo Gangkar is detained for adherence to a religious leader.

In early 2021, authorities in Qinghai province reportedly arrested Gangkar, a writer, for initiating a conversation about the Dalai Lama at a gathering. He reportedly discussed the Dalai Lama's birthday and other celebratory events related to the Dalai Lama.