Additional Name(s): Sergey Viktorovich Ananin, Ананин Сергей Викторович
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 6 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: February/14/2021
Date of Sentencing: March/31/2023
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 Online Activity Praying Religious Activity Religious Belief Singing, Playing, & Producing Religious Songs & Music
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Sergey Ananin is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On February 14, 2021, authorities in Belovo detained Ananin after searching the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses. He was accused of organizing religious meetings through video conference and holding conversations to promote his religion's activities.
On February 15, 2021, Ananin was charged with “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 February 16, 2021, Ananin was placed under house arrest.
On March 31, 2023, the Belovo City Court of the Kemerovo Region sentenced Ananin to six years in prison. He was taken into custody following the verdict.
On June 14, 2023, the Kemerovo Regional Court upheld Ananin's sentence.
On January 30, 2024, the Eighth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Kemerovo upheld his sentence.
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Sergey Ananin" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Ananin's case in Belovo" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Cassation Court in Kemerovo Upheld Sergey Ananin's 6-Year Prison Term" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"В Кемеровской области Свидетелю Иеговы утвердили приговор в виде шести лет колонии" SOVA Center
"In the City of Belovo, Kemerovo Region, the Court Sentenced Sergey Ananin to 6 Years in a Penal Colony. Faith in God and Reading the Bible Is Regarded as a Crime" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"New searches of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Kemerovo region. A 53-year-old believer was detained; the court will be deciding which restrictions to place on him" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Additional Name(s): Mariya Viktorovna Karpova, Карпова Мария Викторовна
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: June/1/2019
Date of Sentencing: November/25/2022
Date of Release: November/25/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: House Arrest
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Mariya Karpova was under house arrest for her religious belief and activity.
On June 1, 2019, authorities detained several Jehovah's Witnesses, including Karpova, following searches on their homes. They were accused of organizing religious gatherings and studying and discussing religious materials.
On April 30, 2020, Karpova was charged with “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) and “recruiting…a person in the activities of an extremist organization” (Art. 282.2-1.1 RCC).
On May 27, 2020, Karpova was released from pretrial detention and placed under house arrest.
On November 25, 2022, the Kirovskiy District Court of Makhachkala imposed a six years' suspended sentence on Karpova.
She was released from house arrest following the verdict.
Related Cases: Marat Abdulgalimov, Arsen Abdullaev, Anton Dergalev
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Mariya Karpova" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Abdullaev and Others in Makhachkala" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"A Court in Dagestan Gave Suspended Sentences to Four of Jehovah's Witnesses for "Extremism." They Prayed and Discussed the Bible" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The Dagestan Supreme Court Ruled to Release Four Believers From the Detention Center. They Spent in Prison Almost a Year" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"In Dagestan, Three Men and One Woman Jailed Following FSB Home Invasions" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Additional Name(s): Anton Olegovich Dergalev, Дергалёв Антон Олегович
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: June/1/2019
Date of Sentencing: November/25/2022
Date of Release: November/25/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: House Arrest
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism Illicit Financing
Anton Dergalev was under house arrest for his religious belief and activity.
On June 1, 2019, authorities detained several Jehovah's Witnesses, including Dergalev, following searches on their homes. They were accused of organizing religious gatherings and studying and discussing religious materials.
On April 30, 2020, Dergalev was charged with “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) and “collecting funds…intended to finance the organization, preparation and commission of at least one of the crimes of an extremist orientation, or to ensure the activities of an extremist community or an extremist organization” (Art. 282.3-1 RCC).
On May 27, 2020, Dergalev was released from pretrial detention and placed under house arrest.
On November 25, 2022, the Kirovskiy District Court of Makhachkala imposed a six years, six months' suspended sentence on Dergalev. He was released from house arrest following the verdict.
Related Cases: Marat Abdulgalimov, Arsen Abdullaev, Mariya Karpova
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Anton Dergalev" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Abdullaev and Others in Makhachkala" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"A Court in Dagestan Gave Suspended Sentences to Four of Jehovah's Witnesses for "Extremism." They Prayed and Discussed the Bible" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The Dagestan Supreme Court Ruled to Release Four Believers From the Detention Center. They Spent in Prison Almost a Year" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"In Dagestan, Three Men and One Woman Jailed Following FSB Home Invasions" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia