Additional Name(s): Elena Anatoliyevna Nikulina, Никулина Елена Анатольевна
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 4 Years, 2 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: August/25/2022
Date of Sentencing: August/25/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Proselytizing Activities Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Elena Nikulina is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On April 2, 2021, authorities charge Nikulina with “recruiting…a person in the activities of an extremist organization” (Art. 282.2-1.1 RCC) and “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) after accusing her of engaging in proselytizing activities.
On August 25, 2022, the Leninskiy District Court of Saransk sentenced Nikulina to four years and two months in prison reportedly for “recruiting…a person in the activities of an extremist organization” (Art. 282.2-1.1 RCC) and “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). She was taken into custody following the verdict.
On January 16, 2023, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Mordovia upheld Nikulina's sentence.
On October 17, 2023, the First Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Saratov upheld Nikulina's sentence.
Nikulina is married. Her husband, Georgiy Nikulin, is also imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
Related Cases: Georgiy Nikulin, Aleksandr Shevchuk, Denis Antonov, Aleksandr Korolev, Vladimir Atrуakhin
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Elena Nikulina" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The Court of Cassation Upheld the Verdict of Six Believers from Saransk. One Of Them Will Be Released in November" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The Appeal Court Upheld the Verdict Against Six Believers From Saransk.They Will Spend 2 to 6 Years in a Penal Colony" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"A Mordovia Court Sentenced Six Saransk-Based Jehovah's Witnesses, Including a Woman, to Two to Six Years in Prison for Practicing Their Faith" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Atryakhin and Others in Saransk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Searches Conducted in Saransk. Father of Young Children Is Detained." Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Additional Name(s): Aleksander Shevchuk, Aleksandr Stanislavovich Shevchuk, Шевчук Александр Станиславович
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 2 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: August/25/2022
Date of Sentencing: August/25/2022
Date of Release: November/3/2023
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Proselytizing Activities Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Aleksandr Shevchuk was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
In February 2019, authorities reportedly open a criminal case against Shevchuk 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 “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). He was accused of engaging in proselytizing activities by discussing his religion with people in public. Soon after, Shevchuk was detained.
On February 8, 2019, Shevchuk was taken to Detention Center No. 1 in the Republic of Mordovia.
On June 2, 2019, Shevchuk was released on bail.
On August 25, 2022, the Leninskiy District Court of Saransk sentenced Shevchuk to two years in prison reportedly 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). He was taken into custody following the verdict.
On January 16, 2023, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Mordovia upheld Shevchuk's sentence.
On October 17, 2023, the First Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Saratov upheld Shevchuk's sentence.
On November 3, 2023, Shevchuk was released from prison after completing his sentence.
Related Cases: Elena Nikulina, Georgiy Nikulin, Denis Antonov, Aleksandr Korolev, Vladimir Atrуakhin
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Aleksandr Shevchuk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Свидетель Иеговы Александр Шевчук вышел на свободу" Memorial
"The Court of Cassation Upheld the Verdict of Six Believers from Saransk. One Of Them Will Be Released in November" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The Appeal Court Upheld the Verdict Against Six Believers From Saransk.They Will Spend 2 to 6 Years in a Penal Colony" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"A Mordovia Court Sentenced Six Saransk-Based Jehovah's Witnesses, Including a Woman, to Two to Six Years in Prison for Practicing Their Faith" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Atryakhin and Others in Saransk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Searches Conducted in Saransk. Father of Young Children Is Detained." Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Additional Name(s): Georgiy Nikolayevich Nikulin, Никулин Георгий Николаевич
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 4 Years, 2 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: August/25/2022
Date of Sentencing: August/25/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Proselytizing Activities Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Georgiy Nikulin is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
In February 2019, authorities reportedly open a criminal case against Nikulin 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 “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). He was accused of engaging in proselytizing activities by discussing his religion with people in public. Soon after, Nikulin was detained.
On February 8, 2019, Nikulin was taken to Detention Center No. 1 in the Republic of Mordovia.
On June 2, 2019, Nikulin was released on bail.
On August 25, 2022, the Leninskiy District Court of Saransk sentenced Nikulin to four years and two months in prison reportedly for “recruiting…a person in the activities of an extremist organization” (Art. 282.2-1.1 RCC) and “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). He was taken into custody following the verdict.
On January 16, 2023, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Mordovia upheld Nikulin's sentence.
On October 17, 2023, the First Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Saratov upheld Nikulin's sentence.
ikulin is married. His wife, Elena Nikulina, is also imprisoned for her religious belief and activity.
Related Cases: Elena Nikulina, Aleksandr Shevchuk, Denis Antonov, Aleksandr Korolev, Vladimir Atrуakhin
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Georgiy Nikulin" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The Court of Cassation Upheld the Verdict of Six Believers from Saransk. One Of Them Will Be Released in November" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The Appeal Court Upheld the Verdict Against Six Believers From Saransk.They Will Spend 2 to 6 Years in a Penal Colony" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"A Mordovia Court Sentenced Six Saransk-Based Jehovah's Witnesses, Including a Woman, to Two to Six Years in Prison for Practicing Their Faith" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Atryakhin and Others in Saransk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Searches Conducted in Saransk. Father of Young Children Is Detained." Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia