Additional Name(s): Vitaliy Sergeyevich Ushakov, Ушаков Виталий Сергеевич
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: February/13/2022
Date of Release: October/10/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: House Arrest
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Vitaliy Ushakov was under house arrest for his religious belief and activity.
On February 13, 2022, authorities in Krasnodar detained Ushakov following raids on the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses in the villages of Vyselki and Berezanskaya. He and others were accused of organizing religious meetings and services and preaching.
In September 2022, Ushakov was released from pretrial detention and placed under house arrest.
On October 10, 2022, Ushakov's house arrest was reportedly lifted.
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Vitaliy Ushakov" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The case of Ushakov and others in Vyselki" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Ушаков Виталий Сергеевич" Memorial
"Mass Searches of Jehovah's Witnesses Took Place in Kuban. At Least One Believer Was Sent to Jail" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Additional Name(s): Valeriy Leonidovich Rabota, Работа Валерий Леонидович
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: March/3/2022
Date of Release: July/28/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: House Arrest
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Valeriy Rabota was under house arrest for his religious belief and activity.
On March 3, 2022, authorities in the Knyaz-Volkonsky rural settlement detained Rabota after searching Jehovah's Witness homes. He was accused of engaging in extremist activities.
On June 29, 2022, Rabota was released from pretrial detention and placed under house arrest.
On July 28, 2022, Rabota's house arrest was reportedly lifted.
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Valeriy Rabota" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of the Work of Valery and Kocherova Lyubov in Knyaz-Volkonsky" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Работа Валерий Леонидович" Memorial
"Searches Took Place in the Khabarovsk Territory. A Believer, 60, Was Detained and Placed in a Pre-Trial Detention Center" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Additional Name(s): Sergey Grigoriyevich Shatalov, Шаталов Сергей Григорьевич
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 6 Years, 3 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: November/24/2020
Date of Sentencing: March/31/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Sergey Shatalov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On November 24, 2020, authorities in Moscow detained Shatalov following raids on the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses. He was accused accused of having discussions about the Bible.
On November 26, 2020, Shatalov was released from pretrial detention and placed under house arrest.
On March 31, 2023, the Babushkinsky District Court in Moscow sentenced Shatalov 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). Shatalov was taken into custody following the verdict.
On April 10, 2024, the Moscow City Court upheld Shatalov's sentence.
Related Cases: Vardan Zakaryan, Ivan Chaykovskiy, Yuriy Chernyshev, Vitaliy Komarov
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Sergey Shatalov" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Chaykovskiy and Others in Moscow" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Мосгорсуд утвердил приговор по делу пяти Свидетелей Иеговы" SOVA Center
USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom Conditions in the Russian Federation July 2023
"Moscow Court Sentences Five Jehovah's Witnesses to 4 to 6 Years in Colony" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia