Additional Name(s): John Kurmoyarov, Dmitry Valeryevich Kurmoyarov, Иоанну Курмоярову
Gender: Male
Current Location: Kresty-2 Prison, St. Petersburg
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Orthodox
Health Concerns: Hypertension
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes
Sentence: 3 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: June/7/2022
Date of Sentencing: August/31/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Online Activity Religious Belief Religious Expression Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role
Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Ioann Kurmoyarov is imprisoned for his religious beliefs.
On June 7, 2022, authorities arrested Kurmoyarov, a hieromonk, after he posted several videos on his YouTube channel outlining his religious opposition to Russia’s war in Ukraine. In the videos, he reportedly said that "those who have unleashed aggression will not be in heaven" and "if you are not disturbed by what is going on in Ukraine, this outrage, then…you are not Christians". Authorities also seized his cassock, two icons, a cross, and his electronic devices from his home. Kurmoyarov was charged with "public dissemination, under the guise of credible statements, of knowingly false information about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in order to protect the interests of the Russian Federation and its citizens [and] maintain international peace and security, as well as about the exercise by state bodies of the Russian Federation of their powers outside the territory of the Russian Federation for those purposes…for reasons of political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity, or for reasons of hatred or enmity against any social group" (Art. 207.3-2d RCC).
In March 2023, it was reported that Kurmoyarov's health had been deteriorating in prison. Kurmoyarov alleged in court that his requests for doctors' appointments had not been fulfilled. He also stated that his hearing and sight have gotten worse.
On August 31, 2023, the Kalininsky District Court of St. Petersburg sentenced Kurmoyarov to three years in prison and prohibitted him from publishing online for two years.
On February 15, 2024, the St. Petersburg City Court upheld Kurmoyarov's sentence.
Kurmoyarov reportedly has hypertension.
Photo attributed to Memorial
"Иеромонаху Иоанну Курмоярову утвердили приговор по делу о военных «фейках» — три года колонии" OVD-Info
USCIRF Commissioners Abraham Cooper and Susie Gelman, Tweet, September 1, 2023
"Иеромонаха Иоанна Курмоярова приговорили к трем годам колонии по делу о военных «фейках»" OVD-Info
"Священнику Иоанну Курмоярову запросили 7 лет колонии по делу о "фейках"" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
"Иеромонаху Иоанну Курмоярову запросили семь лет колонии по делу о военных «фейках»" OVD-Info
USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom Conditions in the Russian Federation July 2023
"В Петербурге против бывшего священника возбуждено уголовное дело о «фейках» о Вооруженных силах РФ" SOVA Center
USCIRF Hearing: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Implications for Religious Freedom March 15, 2023
"Священнику Иоанну Курмоярову до конца мая продлили срок содержания в СИЗО по делу о «фейках»" OVD-Info
"Священнику Иоанну Курмоярову до февраля 2023 года продлили арест по делу о «фейках» про армию" OVD-Info
“RUSSIA: Two priests on trial for opposing Russia's war in Ukraine” Forum 18
“RUSSIA: Orthodox priest detained for opposing war ‘outraged by absurdity of accusations’” Forum 18
Additional Name(s): Mikhailo Britsyn, Михайло Бріцин
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: September//2022
Date of Release: September//2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Humanitarian Work & Charitable Activities Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Mykhailo Britsyn was detained for his religious leadership role.
In September 2022, Russian military detained Britsyn, a pastor, in Russian-occupied Melitopol, Ukraine, during a religious service. Britsyn’s church had reportedly been providing humanitarian aid to local residents and those evacuated from Russian-occupied Mariupol, Ukraine.
In September 2022, Britsyn was released and fled Melitopol.
Additional Name(s): Валентин Журавльов
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: June/18/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Disappeared
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Valentin Zhuravlov was disappeared for his religious leadership role.
On June 18, 2022, Russian armed forces detained Zhuravlev, a Protestant pastor, in Russian-occupied Melitopol, Ukraine. Zhuravlev was reportedly in the middle of a joint interdenominational religious service taking place in the city’s main square when he was taken away.
In October 2022, it was reported that Zhuravlov had been released.
“У Мелітополі озброєні окупанти викрали священника під час молитви” Center for Journalistic Investigations