Additional Name(s): Lubov Vladimirovna Galitsina, Галицына Любовь Владимировна
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Health Concerns: Diabetes, neurological issues
Date of Detainment: August/16/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: House Arrest
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Lubov Galitsina is under house arrest for her religious belief and activity.
On August 16, 2022, authorities in Novocherkassk arrested Galitsina after she was summoned for interrogation. The week before, authorities raided the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses, confiscating Bibles, electronic devices, and more. Galitsina was charged with “participating in the activities of a public or religious association, or any other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-2 RCC).
On December 25, 2023, Galitsina was released from pretrial detention and placed under house arrest.
Galitsina has diabetes and while in detention has reportedly begun experiencing neurological problems.
Related Cases: Garegin Khachaturyan, Gevorg Yeritsyan
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Lubov Galitsina" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Yeritsyan and others in Novocherkassk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Trial of three Novocherkassk Jehovah’s Witnesses* declared to be held behind closed doors" Caucasian Knot
"У 66-летней Свидетельницы Иеговы с диабетом ухудшается здоровье в СИЗО" OVD-Info
"Searches Were Carried Out at the Homes of Local Jehovah's Witnesses in Novocherkassk. Two Believers Were Placed in a Detention Center" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Additional Name(s): Niloufar Hamedi, نیلوفر حامدی
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Unspecified
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: September/22/2022
Date of Release: January/14/2024
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Online Activity Reporting on Religious Freedom Conditions or Documenting Religious Freedom Violations Women’s Rights
Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Niloofar Hamedi was imprisoned for reporting on religious freedom conditions.
On September 22, 2022, authorities raided the home of Hamedi and arrested her in relation to her reporting on the hospitalization and death of Mahsa Amini. Amini's death at the hands of morality police for allegedly wearing a hijab improperly sparked nationwide protests opposing the state's policy of mandatory religious veiling. Hamedi was one of the first journalists to cover Amini's story and published a photo of her parents hugging in the hospital that spread rapidly online. Hamedi has been subjected to prolonged solitary confinement.
On October 28, 2022, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and the intelligence agency of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard accused Hamedi and another journalist of planning to orchestrate nationwide protests with their reporting as agents of foreign intelligence agencies.
In November 2022, a government official revealed that Hamedi had been charged with "colluding with the intention of acting against national security and propaganda against the state."
On May 30, 2023, the judiciary began Hamedi's trial.
In October 2023, it was reported that the Tehran Revolutionary Court had sentenced Hamedi to seven years in prison for "collaborating with the hostile U.S.," five years in prison for "acting against national security," and one year in prison for "propaganda against the regime." Following appeal, Hamedi would serve seven years in prison as the sentences run concurrently.
Hamedi had previously reported on another woman arrested for allegedly wearing improper hijab.
On January 14, 2024, Hamedi was granted temporary release from Evin Prison on bail pending an appeal for her sentence. Iranian state media reports that she is barred from leaving the country.
Related Cases: Mahsa Amini, Sepideh Rashnu, Elaheh Mohammadi
Photo attributed to Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
USCIRF Commissioners Susie Gelman and Eric Ueland, Tweet, January 22, 2024
"Iranian Journalists Jailed Over Amini Coverage Granted 'Temporary' Release On Bail" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
"International Sports Press Body Halfheartedly Condemns Jailing Iranian Journalists" IranWire
"Journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi Sentenced to a Combined 25 Years in Prison" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
"Journalists Who Reported on Mahsa Jina Amini’s Killing Sentenced to Long Prison Terms" Center for Human Rights in Iran
"Iranian journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi sentenced" Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
"Iran Hands Down Prison Terms To Two Journalists Over Amini Coverage" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
"رأی بدوی؛ الهه محمدی و نیلوفر حامدی به احکام سنگین حبس محکوم شدند" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
"The Sham Trials of Two Iranian Women Journalists" Iran Wire
"Iran Charges Two Female Journalists Who Broke Story About Amini's Death" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
"Iran charges female journalists who helped break Amini’s story with being CIA spies" Washington Post
"Iranian journalist who broke news on Mahsa Amini pays heavy price" Reuters
"Journalist Who Reported Mahsa Amini's Hospitalization Held in Solitary Confinement" Iran Wire
Additional Name(s): Andrey Valeriyevich Vlasov,
Gender: Male
Current Location: Medical-Penitentiary Facility No. 16, Kemerovo
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Health Concerns: Disability
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: July/12/2020
Date of Sentencing: May/23/2022
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 Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Andrey Vlasov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On July 12, 2020, authorities in Prokopievsk detained Vlasov reportedly for holding discussions about the Bible. Authorities searched Vlasov's home and reportedly seized Bibles and electronics.
On July 14, 2020, Vlasov was placed under house arrest.
On May 23, 2022, the Central District Court of Prokopyevsk sentenced Vlasov 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). Vlasov is taken into custody following the verdict.
On July 26, 2022, the Kemerovo Regional Court upheld Vlasov's sentence.
On August 27, 2022, Vlasov was taken to a medical facility after suffering from bilateral pneumonia. He was later diagnosed with tuberculosis.
On February 7, 2023, the Eighth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction (Kemerovo) upheld Vlasov's sentence.
Vlasov is reportedly disabled and suffers from heart disease.
Vlasov is married with one child.
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Andrey Vlasov" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Vlasov in Prokopevsk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom Conditions in the Russian Federation July 2023
"Свидетель Иеговы из Прокопьевска рассказал об ухудшении состояния здоровья в колонии" OVD-Info
"Cassation approved the cruel sentence to Andrei Vlasov - 7 years in prison. At the same time, according to the law, the health of a believer does not allow him to be detained" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
USCIRF Spotlight Podcast: Russia’s Persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses October 2022
"A Kemerovo Appeals Court Upheld Andrey Vlasov's Sentence: a Seven-Year Imprisonment for His Faith in God" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"A Kemerovo Region Disabled Person, Andrey Vlasov, Was Handed a Seven-Year Penal Colony Sentence for Holding Bible-Based Discussions" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"A Wave of Searches of Believers in the Kemerovo Region. At Least One Person With Disability Was Detained for 48 Hours" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia