Extra Bio Info:

Sergey Polyakov was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On July 4, 2018, authorities in Omsk detained Polyakov after assaulting him upon violently entering his home. He 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). Polyakov was reportedly placed in solitary confinement. 

On December 4, 2018, the Omsk Regional Court replaced Polyakov's pretrial detention with house arrest.

On March 4, 2019, Polyakov's house arrest order was lifted. 

On November 30, 2020 the Pervomaiskiy District Court of Omsk sentenced Polyakov to three 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). Polyakov was accused of discussing religion and religious texts with others. His possession of Biblical cartoons and the Bible in different languages was also reportedly used as evidence against him. Polyakov was taken into custody following the verdict. 

On May 28, 2021, the Omsk Regional Court upheld Polyakov's sentence. 

On November 30, 2022, Polyakov was released from prison after completing his sentence. 

Polyakov is married, and his wife, Anastasiya Polyakova, was detained and sentenced alongside him for her religious activities. 

Extra Bio Info:

Vasiliy Meleshko is imprisoned for his religious activity.

On August 11, 2021, the Abinsky District Court sentenced Meleshko to three years in prison for “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).  According to investigators, Meleshko "conducted and listened to lectures on the basis of religious literature...entered into conversations and religious discussions with other participants, participated in a collective discussion of religious books." Meleshko was taken into custody following the verdict.

On October 7, 2021, the Judicial Collegium of the Krasnodar Regional Court upheld Meleshko's sentence.

Meleshko is married with two children.

Extra Bio Info:

Atash Shahkarami was detained for speaking out about the disappearance and murder of an anti-hijab protester.

On October 2, 2022, security forces arrested Shahkarami after she spoke with the BBC and posted on social media about the disappearance and murder of her niece, Nika Shahkarami. Nika Shahkarami, a 16-year-old student, went missing on September 20, 2022, after participating in anti-hijab protests. 10 days after her disappearance, Nika’s body was found in a morgue in Tehran, and her family was reportedly not allowed access to her body. Security agents had reportedly been chasing Nika the day of her disappearance, and Atash told the BBC that the Revolutionary Guard had admitted to having her in their custody. Prior to her burial scheduled for October 3, 2022, security forces reportedly “stole” Nika’s body and buried her in another town.  Following Atash’s arrest, sources indicate that security forces threatened to kill her if anyone from their family took part in the nationwide protests.

On October 5, 2022, Atash Shahkarami and her husband, Mohsen Shahkarami, appeared on a state TV report making statements confirming the government’s narrative about Nika’s death. It is reported that security forces threatened to kill their family if the two did not make these statements or confess.

On October 9, 2022, it was reported that Shahkarami had been released.