Additional Name(s): Enrique Martínez Gamboa, Benito Enrique Martínez

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Nicaragua

Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic

Health Concerns: Diabetes, hypertension, kidney problems, blood circulation problems

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: October/13/2022

Date of Release: February/9/2023

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Human Rights Work for Religious Communities Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Criminal Premeditation & Conspiracy Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials

Enrique Martínez

Extra Bio Info:

Enrique Martínez was detained for his religious leadership role.

On October 13, 2022, authorities reportedly violently arrested Martínez, the parish priest of St. Martha’s Church in Managua, at his home. Riot police reportedly entered his home forcibly, broke down the door to his room, beat him, and pushed him into a van. Martínez was reportedly charged with conspiracy and propagating false news. Martínez's arrest came amid a crackdown of fellow clergymen criticizing the government for its human rights violations, including religious freedom.

On February 9, 2023, Martínez was released from prison and exiled to the United States.

Martínez reportedly suffers from diabetes, hypertension, kidney problems, and blood circulation problems.

Additional Name(s): Богдана Гелети

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic

Health Concerns: Diabetes

Date of Detainment: November//2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Bohdan Geleta

Extra Bio Info:

Bohdan Geleta is detained for his religious leadership role.

In November 2022, Russian forces in Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia oblast, Ukraine, reportedly abducted Geleta, a priest and employee of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, and Ivan Levitsky, a hieromonk and rector of that same church. Their abductions reportedly occurred on or around November 16, 2022, with Russian forces searching the church's premises around that same time.

On November 24, 2022, it was revealed in Russian media that Russian forces had detained the two priests and accused them of "subversive" and "partisan" activities directed against Russian forces after allegedly discovering explosives, weapons, and "prohibited literature" on church premises. According to the Ukrainian Catholic Archiepiscopal Exarchate of Donetsk, the accusations levied against the two seem to be in retaliation to Ukrainian authorities searching the Pechersk Lavra in Kyiv, which is under the authority of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

In February 2024, Forum 18 reported that Geleta is being held in a prison in Russian-occupied Crimea, Ukraine.

Geleta reportedly suffers from diabetes. 

Related Cases: Ivan Levitsky

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Additional Name(s): Івана Левицького

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic

Date of Detainment: November//2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Ivan Levitsky

Extra Bio Info:

Ivan Levitsky is detained for his religious leadership role.

In November 2022, Russian forces in Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia oblast, Ukraine, reportedly abducted hieromonk Levitsky, rector of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, and Father Bohdan Geleta, an employee of the same church. Levitsky's abduction reportedly occurred on or around November 16, 2022, with Russian forces searching the church's premises around that same time.

On November 24, 2022, it was revealed in Russian media that Russian forces had detained the two priests and accused them of "subversive" and "partisan" activities directed against Russian forces after allegedly discovering explosives, weapons, and "prohibited literature" on church premises. Russian media also claimed that Levitsky had called on people sabotage and resist Russian forces and had held prayers in support of Ukrainian forces and the government. According to the Ukrainian Catholic Archiepiscopal Exarchate of Donetsk, the accusations levied against the two seem to be in retaliation to Ukrainian authorities searching the Pechersk Lavra in Kyiv, which is under the authority of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

In February 2024, Forum 18 reported that Levitsky is being held in a prison in Russia's Rostov region.

Related Cases: Bohdan Geleta

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