Additional Name(s): Балабкин Владимир Моисеевич
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Health Concerns: Elderly, Cancer
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Reduced to 1 Year's Suspended Imprisonment
Sentence: Originally 4 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: September/13/2023
Date of Sentencing: September/13/2023
Date of Release: December/19/2023
Current Status: 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
Vladimir Balabkin was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On September 13, 2023, the Belogorsk District Court sentenced Balabkin 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). Authorities had prosecuted Balabkin for holding Jehovah's Witness religious services. Balabkin was taken into custody following the verdict.
On December 19, 2023, the Amur Regional Court reduced Balabkin's sentence to one year of suspended imprisonment after it reclassified his charges to “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). Balabkin was released from custody following the verdict.
Balabkin is in his seventies and suffers from cancer.
Balabkin is married, with his wife also suffering from serious medical issues.
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Vladimir Balabkin" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Balabkin case in Belogorsk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Court In Russia's Far East Releases Jehovah's Witness Imprisoned On Extremism Charges" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (REF/RL)
"Амурский областной суд смягчил приговор Свидетелю Иеговы" SOVA Center
USCIRF Commissioners Abraham Cooper and Susie Gelman, Tweet, September 14, 2023
"Cancer-Stricken Jehovah's Witness Gets Four Years In Prison In Russia's Far East" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
"A Believer, 71, Sentenced to Four Years in Prison — The Court in Belogorsk Found Vladimir Balabkin Guilty of Extremism for Holding Religious Services" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing
Advancing Religious Freedom within the U.S. - India Bilateral Relationship
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
9:30 AM – 11:00 AM ET
216 Hart Senate Office Building
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) hosted a hearing on religious freedom in India and how the U.S. government can work with the Indian government to address violations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Washington, D.C. reflects the close bilateral relationship between the United States and India. However, over the last decade, the Indian government has enacted and enforced discriminatory policies targeting religious minorities, including anti-conversion laws, cow slaughter laws, legislation granting citizenship preferences based on religion, and restrictions on foreign funding for civil society organizations. Recent trends include the eruption of violence between Hindus and Muslims in Haryana in July and targeted attacks against Christian and Jewish minorities in Manipur, highlighting the need for new strategies to mitigate violence against religious minorities in India.
Since 2020, USCIRF has recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate India as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for its systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom. Witnesses discussed the Indian government’s legal framework and enforcement of discriminatory policies, explained current religious freedom conditions, and offered policy options for the United States to work with India to combat abuses of religious freedom and related human rights in the country.
Opening Remarks
Panel I
Panel II
Submitted for the Record
Statement from Hindus for Human Rights
Statement from The Sikh Coalition
Statement by John Newton, Aid to the Church in Need International
This hearing is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. The hearing will be livestreamed, and the video recording will be posted on the Commission website. Members of the media can email [email protected] for any questions or to schedule an interview. For any additional questions, please email Danielle Ashbahian at [email protected].
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
The First 25 Years: IRFA Accomplishments and Next Steps
Monday, October 23, 2023
3:00-5:00 pm ET
Kennedy Caucus Room
325 Russell Senate Office Building
Watch on C-Span
Event Transcript
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) hosted an event commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA).
Freedom of religion is both America’s first freedom and a universal human right. Yet many people around the world live in countries where this right is denied or restricted. Twenty-five years ago, IRFA was enacted to elevate religious freedom as a higher priority in U.S. foreign policy and strengthen the United States’ advocacy on behalf of individuals persecuted in foreign countries on account of their religion or belief.
Speakers reflected on the impact of IRFA and the next steps for U.S. foreign policy. This event also highlighted individuals and communities persecuted for their religion or belief, as well as the many victims of religious freedom violations documented in the Frank R. Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List.
Opening Remarks
• Abraham Cooper, Chair, USCIRF
Written Remarks
• Frederick A. Davie, Vice Chair, USCIRF
Written Remarks
Congressional Remarks
All Members of Congress were invited to speak.
• Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chair, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Written Remarks
• Senator James Lankford (R-OK)
Recorded Remarks
• Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV)
Written Remarks
• Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)
Recorded Remarks
• Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)
Recorded Remarks
• Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)
Recorded Remarks
• Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA)
Written Remarks
• Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA)
Recorded Remarks
• Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL)
Recorded Remarks
• Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY)
Recorded Remarks
• Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS)
Recorded Remarks
• Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA)
Recorded Remarks
• Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT)
Recorded Remarks
• Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands)
Recorded Remarks
• Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL)
Recorded Remarks
• Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
Recorded Remarks
Panel I – A Retrospective and Prospective Look on IRFA’s Passage
• Frank Wolf, Commissioner, USCIRF
Recorded Remarks
• Former Senator Don Nickles
Recorded Remarks
• Former Senator Joe Lieberman
Recorded Remarks
Panel II – Raising Awareness of Religious Prisoners of Conscience Through Frank R. Wolf FoRB Victims List and TLHRC Defending Freedoms Project
Moderator
• David Curry, Commissioner, USCIRF
Panelists
• Kimberly Stanton, Democratic Staff Director, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
• Sasha LaPonsa, Democratic Staff Associate, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
• Judy Golub, Director of Strategy and Planning for Religious News Foundation/Service and FoRB Women's Alliance Co-Founder
Remarks from Former Religious Prisoners of Conscience (RPOCs)
• Nguyen Bac Truyen, Vietnam
Recorded Remarks
• Jahongir Kulidjanov, Uzbekistan
Recorded Remarks
• Seymur Mammadov, Azerbaijan
Recorded Remarks
Panel III – USCIRF’s Key Accomplishments and Upcoming Activities
• USCIRF Commissioners and Staff
Light refreshments will be served. This event is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. For any additional questions or interview requests, please contact [email protected].