Denis Kuzyanin
Additional Name(s): Denis Yuriyevich Kuzyanin, Кузянин Денис Юрьевич
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: January/25/2024
Date of Sentencing: January/25/2024
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Denis Kuzyanin
Extra Bio Info:
Denis Kuzyanin is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On December 15, 2021, authorities in Samara detained several Jehovah's Witnesses, including Kuzyanin, following a raid on an apartment they were in. Kuzyanin was investigated 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) over his Jehovah's Witness activities.
In December 2022, Kuzyanin was released.
On January 25, 2024, the Samara District Court sentenced Kuzyanin to seven years in prison. He was taken into custody following the verdict.
On May 20, 2024, the Samara Regional Court upheld Kuzyanin’s sentence.
Related Cases: Nikolay Vasiliyev, Sergey Polosenko, Aram Danielyan
Sources:
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Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"Denis Kuzyanin" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"Case of Polosenko and others in Samara" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"A Court in Samara Sent Four Jehovah's Witnesses to a Penal Colony for Seven Years" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
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"A Raid on Jehovah's Witnesses Took Place in Samara. Three Were Sent to a Pre-Trial Detention Center, One Reported Torture During a Search" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia