Additional Name(s): Yaroslav Vasiliyevich Kalin, Калин Ярослав Васильевич

Gender: Male

Current Location: Detention Centre No. 1, Irkutsk

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: October/4/2021

Date of Sentencing: March/5/2024

Current Status: Not Released

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 Illicit Financing

Yaroslav Kalin

Extra Bio Info:

Yaroslav Kalin is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On October 4, 2021, authorities in Irkutsk detained Kalin following raids on the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses. Investigators had reportedly opened a criminal case against him following secret audio recordings of worship services which included participants praying, singing, and reading the Bible.

On March 5, 2024, the Oktyabrskiy District Court of Irkutsk sentenced Kalin to seven years 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) 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).

Related Cases: Sergey Kosteyev, Nikolay Martynov, Mikhail Moysh, Igor Popov, Denis Sarazhakov, Aleksey Solnechny, Andrey Tolmachev, Sergey Vasilyev

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Oct 11, 2022

On September 16th, Iran’s morality police arrested 22-year old Mahsa Amini for wearing improper hijab. The morality police reportedly beat Amini until she suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and a stroke. Upon learning of her death days later at a hospital in Tehran, Iranians across the country took to the streets in protest of the government’s brutal repression. Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iran has mandated the hijab in public spaces for women on religious grounds. These laws have been met since that time by peaceful protests, often led by women. Iran’s government has put down these protests by force and is actively doing so now. Iranian security officials are also arresting and beating to death in custody girls who protest mandatory hijab, including Nika Shakarami and Sarina Esmailzadeh.

Marjan Keypour Greenblatt, founder of the ARAM Alliance, joins us today to discuss the interconnection between religious freedom and women’s rights in Iran.

Read USCIRF's 2022 Country Update on Iran.

Additional Name(s): Sergey Viktorovich Gromov, Громов Сергей Викторович

Gender: Male

Current Location: Detention Center No.1, Tatarstan

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 6 Years, 1 Month's Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: March/15/2022

Date of Sentencing: September/14/2023

Current Status: Not Released

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Sergey Gromov

Extra Bio Info:

Sergey Gromov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On March 15, 2022, authorities in Moscow arrested Gromov at an airport. The following day, his home was searched, and religious texts were confiscated.

On September 14, 2023, the Moskovsky District Court of Kazan sentenced Gromov to six years and one month 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) 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). Investigators accused Gromov of holding religious services at his home.

On February 9, 2024, the Supreme Court of Tatarstan approved Gromov's sentence.

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