Extra Bio Info:

Aleksandr Gabyshev is detained for his religious expression, belief, and activity. 

On January 27, 2021, authorities arrested Gabyshev and sent him to a psychiatric hospital after Gabyshev renewed his calls to “exorcise” President Vladimir Putin from power. Gabyshev was charged with “public calls for extremist activity” (Art. 280-1 RCC) and “using violence dangerous to the life or health of a representative of authority” (Art. 318-2 RCC). Gabyshev allegedly injured a police officer during his arrest.

On July 26, 2021, the Yakutsk City Court ruled Gabyshev be confined to a psychiatric hospital indefinitely.

In September 2021, an appeals court reportedly upheld Gabyshev’s indefinite psychiatric confinement, declaring him “insane.”

In October 2022, the Ussuriisk District Court extended Gabyshev’s psychiatric confinement after the Primorye Regional Court the month before ruled in favor of Gabyshev’s appeal and ordered a new hearing with the Ussuriisk District Court.

On November 30, 2022, the Primorye Regional Court rejected Gabyshev’s appeal against the extension of his forced hospitalization.

In February 2023, a court extended Gabyshev’s psychiatric confinement to June 2023.

In June 2023, a court ordered the transfer of Gabyshev to a general psychiatric hospital with lighter detention conditions in Yakutsk.

In July 2023, the Primorsky Regional Court overturned Gabyshev's court-ordered transfer to a general psychiatric hospital with lighter detention conditions.

Gabyshev has previously been subjected to forced psychiatric hospitalization for his religious expression. In 2019, Gabyshev began a cross country trek from Yakutsk to Moscow with the goal of using his shaman powers to cast out President Putin’s "demons." In September 2019, police abducted him and placed him in a psychiatric hospital for “public calls for extremist activity” (Art. 280-1 RCC).

Extra Bio Info:

An Yankui was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On November 21, 2021, authorities from Fenyang city, Luliang municipality, Shanxi province, reportedly detained An, a minister and member of the Zion Reformed Church in Taiyuan municipality, Shanxi, for “illegally crossing the border.”  His arrest was reportedly in relation to a trip to Malaysia five church members took to attend a religious conference.

On November 3, 2022, the Fenyang City Court sentenced An to one year in prison.

Later in November 2022, An was released from prison after completing his sentence.

An had previously been detained while holding a Bible study in 2020.

Related Cases: Zhang Chenghao

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Chen Lijun is detained for his religious belief and activity. 

On August 13, 2022, authorities in Luanchuan county, Luoyang municipality, Henan province, detained Chen, a preacher and administrator of a local house church, reportedly for purchasing religious books without government approval. He was placed in administrative detention for 15 days.

On October 27, 2022, authorities criminally detained Chen for "defrauding public or private property" (Art. 266 CCL) in relation to the purchasing of religious books. Authorities also reportedly fined Chen 100,000 yuan.