Additional Name(s): Viktor Vladimirovich Stashevskiy, Сташевский Виктор Владимирович
Gender: Male
Current Location: Penal Colony No. 9, Krasnodar
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 6 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: March/29/2021
Date of Sentencing: March/29/2021
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
Viktor Stashevskiy is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On March 29, 2021, the Gagarinsky District Court of Sevastopol, Crimea, Ukraine, sentenced Stashevskiy to six years and six 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). Stashevskiy was accused of "promoting the ideas of Jehovah's Witnesses, holding meetings, holding religious performances." Stashevskiy was taken into custody following the verdict.
On August 10, 2021, the Sevastopol City Court rejected upheld Stashevskiy's sentence.
Stashevskiy is married with two children.
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Viktor Stashevskiy" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Stashevskiy in Sevastopol" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The Third Jehovah's Witness From Crimea Will Go to a Colony for his Faith. The Appeal Confirmed the Harsh Sentence of Viktor Stashevskiy" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The toughest sentence for believing in Jehovah passed in Crimea: Viktor Stashevsky sentenced to 6 and a half years in prison" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Additional Name(s): Rustam Ataevich Seidkuliev, Сеидкулиев Рустам Атаевич
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Reduced to 2 Years, 4 Months' Imprisonment
Sentence: Originally 2 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: May/20/2021
Date of Sentencing: May/20/2021
Date of Release: April/7/2023
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
Rustam Seidkuliev was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On February 15, 2020, the Adler police detained Seidkuliev.
On February 22, 2020, the Leninsky District Court of Saratov replaced Seidkuliev's pretrial detention with house arrest.
On September 25, 2020, Seidkuliev's house arrest was lifted.
On May 20, 2021, the Leninskiy District Court of Saratov sentenced Seidkuliev to two years and six months 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). Prosecutors accused him of attending worship services and talking about God with others. Seidkuliev was taken into custody following the verdict.
On August 5, 2021, the Saratov Regional Court reduced Seidkuliev's sentence by two months, making it two years and four months in prison.
On April 7, 2023, Seidkuliev was released from prison after completing his sentence.
On June 19, 2023, authorities detained Seidkuliev again after a decision was made to revoke his Russian citizenship and deport him. He was placed in a temporary detention center for foreign citizens
On September 17, 2023, the Federal Migration Service deported Seidkuliev to Turkmenistan.
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Rustam Seidkuliev" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Seidkuliev in Saratov" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Свидетеля Иеговы из Саратова после освобождения из колонии депортировали из России" Memorial
"Rustam Seidkuliev, One of Jehovah's Witnesses, was Deported to Turkmenistan, Although the Court Allowed Him to Stay in Russia for Another Six Months" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Rustam Seidkuliev Served His Term for Faith and Released From the Colony in Saratov" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The Appeal Reduced by Two Months the Prison Term Assigned to One of Jehovah's Witnesses From Saratov Rustam Seidkuliev" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"The Court Sent One More of Jehovah's Witnesses Behind Bars. Rustam Seidkuliev Was Sentenced to 2.5 Years in Prison for Talking About the Bible" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"In Adler, Police Officers Detained a Believer From Saratov" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Additional Name(s): Yuriy Prokopyevich Savelyev, Савельев Юрий Прокопьевич
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 6 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: November/8/2018
Date of Sentencing: December/16/2020
Date of Release: July/19/2023
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Yuriy Savelyev was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On November 8, 2018, authorities in Novosibirsk arrested Savelyev after searching his home. He was charged with “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 December 16, 2020, the Leninsky District Court of Novosibirsk sentenced Savelyev to six years in prison.
On April 5, 2021, the Novosibirsk Regional Court upheld Savelyev's sentence.
On February 7, 2022 Novosibirsk Regional Court upheld Savelyev's sentence again.
On July 19, 2023, Savelyev was released from prison after completing his sentence.
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Yuriy Savelyev" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Savelyev in Novosibirsk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"69-year-old Yuriy Savelyev Was Released from a Colony in Rubtsovsk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"A Secondary Appeal in Novosibirsk Upheld an Imprisonment Term for 68-Year-Old Yuriy Saveliyev" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"A Novosibirsk appeal upheld 67-year-old Yuriy Savelyev's verdict: six years in prison for practicing his faith" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"A Novosibirsk court sentenced 66-year-old Yuriy Savelyev, one of Jehovah's Witnesses, to six years in prison. He has already spent half of this term in pre-trial detention" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Mass Searches and Criminal Case in Novosibirsk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia