Additional Name(s): Sergey Alekseyevich Kardakov, Кардаков Сергей Алексеевич
Gender: Male
Current Location: Detention Center No. 1, Amur Region
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 6 Years, 4 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: December/21/2022
Date of Sentencing: December/21/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Praying Religious Activity Religious Belief Singing, Playing, & Producing Religious Songs & Music
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Sergey Kardakov is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On December 21, 2022, the Blagoveshchensk City Court of the Amur Region sentenced Kardakov to six years and four months 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). Kardakov and others were accused of Jehovah's Witness religious activities, including reading the Bible, praying, singing religious songs and discussing religious teachings. Kardakov was taken into custody following the verdict.
On May 11, 2023, the Amur Regional Court upheld Kardakov's sentence.
On September 26, 2023, the Ninth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Vladivostok upheld Kardakov's sentence.
Related Cases: Sergey Afanasiyev, Anton Olshevskiy, Adam Svarichevskiy, Sergey Yermilov
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Sergey Kardakov" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Olshevsky and others in Blagoveshchensk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The Court of Cassation Upheld the Decisions of the Lower Courts Regarding Five Believers from the City of Blagoveshchensk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"An appeal in Blagoveshchensk upheld the sentence of five Jehovah's Witnesses - more than 6 years in prison for their beliefs" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"A Court in Blagoveshchensk Sentenced Five of Jehovah's Witnesses to More Than 6 Years in prison. Religious Meetings and Talks Are Viewed as a Crime" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: China
Ethnic Group: Tibetan
Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Tibetan
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Adherence to a Religious Figure Discussing Religion & Religious Texts
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Rongwo Gangkar is detained for adherence to a religious leader.
In early 2021, authorities in Qinghai province reportedly arrested Gangkar, a writer, for initiating a conversation about the Dalai Lama at a gathering. He reportedly discussed the Dalai Lama's birthday and other celebratory events related to the Dalai Lama.
"Tibetan writer held by China for ‘discussing’ Dalai Lama" Radio Free Asia (RFA)
"Prominent Tibetan writer confirmed detained after year-long disappearance" Radio Free Asia (RFA)
Additional Name(s): Sergey Aleksandrovich Shulyarenko, Шуляренко Сергей Александрович
Gender: Male
Current Location: Detention Center No. 1, Jewish Autonomous Region
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Reduced to 6 Years, 9 Months' Imprisonment
Sentence: Originally 7 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: December/19/2022
Date of Sentencing: December/19/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism Illicit Financing
Sergey Shulyarenko is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On December 19, 2022, the Birobidzhan District Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region sentenced Shulyarenko to seven 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) and “collecting funds…intended to finance the organization, preparation and commission of at least one of the crimes of an extremist orientation, or to ensure the activities of an extremist community or an extremist organization” (Art. 282.3-1 RCC). Authorities had accused Shulyarenko and others of holding religious services. Shulyarenko was taken into custody following the verdict.
On June 1, 2023, the Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region reduced Shulyarenko's sentence to six years and nine months in prison.
Related Cases: Alam Aliyev, Valeriy Kriger, Dmitriy Zagulin
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Sergey Shulyarenko" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Aliyev and Others in Birobidzhan" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Апелляционный суд сократил сроки заключения Свидетелям Иеговы из Биробиджана" SOVA Center
"Four Believers From Birobidzhan Received From 3.5 to 7 Years in Prison for Reading and Discussing the Bible" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia