Additional Name(s): Danil Sergeyevich Suvorov, Суворов Данил Сергеевич
Gender: Male
Current Location: SIZO No 1, Krasnodar
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 6 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: August/18/2021
Date of Sentencing: June/20/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Proselytizing Activities Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Danil Suvorov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On August 18, 2021, authorities in Sochi detained Suvorov following searches on the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses. He was accused of “using his authority as the spiritual leader of a follower of the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses" that included "inducing, recruiting and otherwise involving...in the activities of a banned extremist organization." Suvorov was investigated 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).
On June 20, 2023, the Tsentralniy District Court of Sochi sentenced Suvorov to six years in prison.
On May 7, 2024, the Krasnodar Regional Court upheld Suvorov’s sentence.
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Danil Suvorov" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Danil Suvorov in Sochi" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Свидетеля Иеговы Данила Суворова приговорили к шести годам колонии" SOVA Center
"Danil Suvorov from Sochi Received 6 Years in a Penal Colony for Talking about God" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Searches of Jehovah's Witnesses Were Again Held in Sochi. 25-Year-Old Believer Is Detained" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Additional Name(s): Nikolay Aleksandrovich Stepanov, Степанов Николай Александрович
Gender: Male
Current Location: Detention Center No. 2, Vologda
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 4 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: September/5/2022
Date of Sentencing: September/5/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Distributing Religious Materials Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Nikolay Stepanov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On December 19, 2019, authorities in Vologda detained Stepanov following searches on the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses. Stepanov was accused of "convening meetings, organizing religious speeches and services at these meetings, distributing literature with extremist content, and collecting financial resources under the guise of donations.”
On August 13, 2020, Stepanov was placed under house arrest.
On September 25, 2020, Stepanov's house arrest was lifted.
On September 5, 2022, the Vologda City Court sentenced Stepanov to four 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). He was taken into custody following the verdict.
Stepanov is married with one child.
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Nikolay Stepanov" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Stepanov and Baranov in Vologda" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Vologda-Based Yuriy Baranov, 70, Was Handed a Four-Year Suspended Sentence, and Nikolay Stepanov, 48, Was Handed a Four-Year Prison Sentence for Their Belief in God" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Mass Searches of Jehovah's Witnesses in Vologda. One Believer Sent to Jail, Another Placed Under House Arrest" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Additional Name(s): Valeriy Viktorovich Tibiy, Тибий Валерий Викторович
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: May/18/2022
Date of Sentencing: June/20/2023
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Valeriy Tibiy was detained for his religious belief and activity.
On May 18, 2022, authorities detained Tibiy after searching his home in December 2021. He was accused of “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).
On June 20, 2023, the Taganrog City Court imposed a six-year suspended sentence on Tibiy. He was released following the verdict.
On August 23, 2023, the Rostov Regional Court upheld Tibiy's sentence.
Related Cases: Aleksandr Skvortsov
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Valeriy Tibiy" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Skvortsov and Tibiy in Taganrog" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Утвержден приговор троим Свидетелям Иеговы из Таганрога" SOVA Center
"Two of Jehovah's Witnesses from Taganrog Sentenced to Real and Suspended Terms, One of Them — a Second Time" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Searches of Jehovah's Witnesses Took Place in Taganrog. Believers Were Detained" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia