Additional Name(s): Khoren Nikolayevich Khachikyan, Хачикян Хорен Николевич
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Date of Detainment: February/27/2018
Date of Sentencing: October/8/2020
Date of Release: April/19/2019
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: House Arrest
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism
Khoren Khachikyan was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On February 27, 2019, authorities arrested Khachikyan following a raid on his home in Ulyanovsk. Authorities were reportedly investigating him for "promoting the popularization of the ideas of Jehovah's Witnesses, promoting the superiority of these ideas over other religious teachings, looking for places for meetings of members of this organization, and direct participation in events."
On February 28, 2019, the Leninsky District Court of Ulyanovsk placed Khachikyan under house arrest.
On April 19, 2019, Khachikyan's house arrest order was lifted. He was ordered not to leave his home at night and use the mail, phones, or internet.
On October 8, 2020, the Zasviyazhsky District Court of Ulyanovsk sentenced Khachikyan to two years and six months of suspended imprisonment and seven months of restricted freedom 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).
On January 29, 2021, Khachikyan's appeal was dismissed.
Photo attributed to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Khoren Khachikyan" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
"Case of Zelenskiy and Others in Ulyanovsk" Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia