Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: September/21/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Disappeared
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Tatyana Ponomaryov
Extra Bio Info:
Tatyana Ponomaryov was disappeared for her religious beliefs and activity.
On September 21, 2022, armed men in military uniform abducted Ponomaryov and her husband, a Baptist pastor, from their home in Russian-occupied Mariupol, Ukraine. Previously, Russian officials had reportedly claimed that the two had been involved in “extremist activity,” and military personnel searched and closed Ponomaryov’s church.
On October 21, 2022, the Ponomaryovs were released.
Related Cases: Leonid Ponomaryov
Sources:
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Photo attributed to ©Private [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0] via Forum 18
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USCIRF Issue Update: Russia’s Religious Freedom Violations in Ukraine July 2023
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“OCCUPIED UKRAINE: Masked soldiers seize Mariupol pastor and wife” Forum 18
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: September/21/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Disappeared
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Leonid Ponomaryov
Extra Bio Info:
Leonid Ponomaryov was disappeared for his religious beliefs and activity.
On September 21, 2022, armed men in military uniform abducted Ponomaryov, a Baptist pastor, and his wife from their home in Russian-occupied Mariupol, Ukraine. Previously, Russian officials had reportedly claimed that the two had been involved in “extremist activity,” and military personnel searched and closed Ponomaryov’s church.
On October 21, 2022, the Ponomaryovs were released.
Related Cases: Tatyana Ponomaryov
Sources:
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Photo attributed to ©Private [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0] via Forum 18
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USCIRF Issue Update: Russia’s Religious Freedom Violations in Ukraine July 2023
-
“OCCUPIED UKRAINE: Masked soldiers seize Mariupol pastor and wife” Forum 18
Additional Name(s): Ayda Rasti, Aida Rasti Qalati, آیدا راستی قلاتی
Gender: Female
Current Location: Evin Prison, Tehran
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Bahá`í
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: September/28/2022
Date of Release: December/26/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Aida Rasti
Extra Bio Info:
Aida Rasti was detained for her religious belief and activity.
On September 28, 2022, authorities reportedly arrested Rasti from her home in relation to her being Baha'i. She was transferred to Evin Prison following her arrest.
On December 26, 2022, Rasti was reportedly released on bail.
Rasti reportedly experienced nervous problems and severe weight loss while detained.
Related Cases: Bardia Basiri, Yashar Rasti
Sources:
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"آیدا راستی، شهروند بهائی با تودیع قرار وثیقه آزاد شد" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
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"بردیا بصیری در تهران بازداشت شد" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
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"Baha’is Citizen Aida Rasti Arrested 13 Days after Release from Prison" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)
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"آیدا راستی، شهروند بهائی توسط نیروهای امنیتی بازداشت شد" Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)