Additional Name(s): Vardan Pegatosovich Zakaryan, Закарян Вардан Пегатосович

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 4 Years, 2 Months' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: November/24/2020

Date of Sentencing: March/31/2023

Current Status: Not Released

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Vardan Zakaryan

Extra Bio Info:

Vardan Zakaryan is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On November 24, 2020, authorities in Moscow detained Zakaryan following raids on the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses. He was accused accused of having discussions about the Bible. Zakaryan was reportedly assaulted in the raid and sent to the hospital after being injured.

On November 30, 2020, Zakaryan was released from pretrial detention and placed under house arrest.

On March 31, 2023, the Babushkinsky District Court in Moscow sentenced Zakaryan to four years and two months in prison for “recruiting…a person in the activities of an extremist organization” (Art. 282.2-1.1 RCC). Zakaryan was taken into custody following the verdict.

On April 10, 2024, the Moscow City Court upheld Zakaryan's sentence.

Related Cases: Ivan Chaykovskiy, Yuriy Chernyshev, Vitaliy Komarov, Sergey Shatalov

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