Frank R. Wolf FoRB Victims List: Russia

www.uscirf.gov/victims-list

USCIRF Recommended for Country of Particular Concern

Russia

Updated September 2023

Sunni Muslims

Sunni Muslims remain the largest religious group 

imprisoned for their religious activities. Accusations of 

involvement in terrorism often result in decades in prison, 

despite no evidence of defendants advocating for or 

participating in violence. Authorities use these allegations 

to imprison Muslim Crimean Tatar activists opposed to 

Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea.

Amet Suleymanov

religion or belief:

Sunni 

arrested:

March 11, 2020

sentence:

12 Years’ Imprisonment

health concerns:

Heart Disease

reason for persecution:

Alleged membership in Hizb ut-Tahrir 

Jehovah’s Witnesses

Jehovah’s Witnesses face severe repression for their 

religion. Since declaring the group “extremist” in 2017, 

authorities have prosecuted Jehovah’s Witnesses for their 

peaceful religious activities, including discussing the Bible, 

having worship services, and singing religious songs.

Andrey Vlasov

religion or belief:

Jehovah’s Witness

arrested:

July 12, 2020

sentence:

7 Years’ Imprisonment

health concerns:

Disability, Heart Disease

reason for persecution:

Held discussions about the Bible

Protesters & Human Rights Defenders

Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russian 

authorities have unleashed the largest crackdown on 

independent Russian civil society since the end of the 

Soviet Union. Law enforcement have arrested human rights 

defenders known for supporting religious freedom and 

dissidents using religious language to oppose the war.

Mikhail Simonov

religion or belief:

Russian Orthodox

arrested:

November 9, 2022

sentence:

7 Years’ Imprisonment

health concerns:

Heart Disease 

reason for persecution:

Criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with 

religious language

Ukrainian Religious Leaders

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 

2022, its military has committed gross violations against 

Ukrainian religious communities, often targeting religious 

leaders. Russian forces have harassed, threatened, forced 

into exiled, detained, forcibly disappeared, tortured, 

and killed religious figures in order to exert control and 

subjugate local populations.

Bohdan Geleta

religion or belief:

Greek Catholic

disappeared:

November 2022

current status:

Unknown

health concerns:

Diabetes

reason for persecution:

Religious leader in Russian-occupied Ukraine

FoRB Victims List Stats

449 out of 2,125

Religion or Belief # of Victims

Sunni 238

Jehovah’s Witnesses 190

Protestant 12

Unspecified 3

Catholic 2

Orthodox 2

Scientologist 1

Shaman 1

Total 449

Type of Abuse # of Victims

Imprisoned 357

Detained 57

House Arrest 27

Disappeared 8

Total 449

Average Prison Sentence

10 Years, 8 Months

Reports of # of Victims

Torture 14

Medical Neglect 13

Total 27
Frank R. Wolf FoRB Victims List: Russia

www.uscirf.gov/victims-list

USCIRF Recommended for Country of Particular Concern

Russia

Updated September 2023

Frank R. Wolf FoRB Victims List Background

The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA), as amended by the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016, 

requires USCIRF to:

make publicly available, to the extent practicable...lists of persons it determines are imprisoned or detained, have 

disappeared, been placed under house arrest, been tortured, or subjected to forced renunciation of faith for their religious 

activity or religious freedom advocacy by the government of a foreign country that the Commission recommends for 

designation as a country of particular concern [CPC]...or by a nonstate actor that the Commission recommends for 

designation as an entity of particular concern [EPC]. 

USCIRF developed the Frank R. Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Victims List—an online public database—to implement this 

provision for countries USCIRF recommends for Country of Particular Concern (CPC) or Special Watch List (SWL) status. The list also 

includes such victims located in the de facto territories of nonstate actors that USCIRF recommends for Entity of Particular Concern (EPC) 

status, according to the same criteria.

Due to limited resources, USCIRF is unable to identify and document all victims that meet the statutory requirement to be included on 

the FoRB Victims List and generally relies on receiving submissions from outside individuals and organizations. As such, the information 

contained in the database does not reflect country, regional, or global trends. Furthermore, percentages highlighted in this section should 

not be used for extrapolation purposes nor interpreted as a particular group experiencing greater violations than another or a particular 

country committing violations at a greater rate than others. To support this project, USCIRF invites those with credible information on 

victims to submit information using the Victims List Intake Form at www.uscirf.gov/form/uscirf-victims-list-intake-form. 

FoRB Victims List Stats Overall

Perpetrator Victims Documented

Algeria 5

Azerbaijan 11

Burma 5

China 770

Cuba 11

Egypt 18

Eritrea 50

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) 2

Houthis 3

India 55

Indonesia 8

Iran 339

Iraq 2

Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) 1

Kazakhstan 15

Malaysia 4

Nicaragua 15

Nigeria 9

North Korea 9

Pakistan 90

Russia 449

Saudi Arabia 46

Sri Lanka 1

Tajikistan 13

Turkmenistan 30

Uzbekistan 87

Vietnam 77

Total 2,125

Religion or Belief Victims Documented

Adivasi 1

Baha’i 163

Bon 1

Buddhist – Hoa Hao 6

Buddhist – Theravada 3

Buddhist – Tibetan 76

Buddhist – Unspecified/Other 28

Christian – Catholic 46

Christian – Church of Almighty God 236

Christian – Jehovah’s Witness 258

Christian – Orthodox 17

Christian – Protestant 130

Christian – Unspecified/Other 66

Duong Van Minh 4

ECKist (Eckankar) 1

Erfan-e Halgheh Practitioner 2

Falun Gong 213

Hindu 10

Humanist 1

Jewish 1

Muslim – Ahmadiyya 23

Muslim – Qur’anist 1

Muslim – Shi’a 39

Muslim – Sufi 63

Muslim – Sunni 385

Muslim – Unspecified/Other 237

Santeria 5

Scientologist 1

Shaman 1

Sikh 1

Yarsani 37

Unknown/Unspecified 69

Total 2,125
Frank R. Wolf FoRB Victims List: Russia

www.uscirf.gov/victims-list

USCIRF Recommended for Country of Particular Concern

Russia

Updated September 2023

Not Released

Aleksandr Gabyshev

Aleksandr Rumyantsev

Aleksey Solnechny

Anatoliy Li

Andrey Tolmachev

Aram Danielyan

Artur Putintsev

Boris Andreyev

Denis Kuzyanin

Denis Sarazhakov

Eduard Sviridov

Garegin Khachaturyan

Gevorg Yeritsyan

Igor Popov

Inver Siyukhov

Ioann Kurmoyarov

Lubov Galitsina

Marat Bazarbayev

Mikhail Moysh

Mykhailo Britsyn

Natalya Sharapova

Nikolay Martynov

Nikolay Saparov

Nikolay Vasiliyev

Nikolay Voishchev

Said Abu Mustafa

Sean Pike

Sergey Gromov

Sergey Kosteyev

Sergey Novoselov

Sergey Polosenko

Sergey Romanov

Vadim Nasyrov

Vladimir Melnik

Vladimir Piskarev

Yaroslav Kalin

Yuriy Bycha

Bohdan Geleta

Ivan Levitsky

Aleksandr Votyakov

Artem Velichko

Dmitriy Dolzhikov

Dmytro Naukhatsky

Ivan Neverov

Kishta Tutinova

Leysan Bochkareva

Mikhail Shevchuk

Oleksandr Sizikov

Sergey Vasilyev

Tatyana Obizhestvit

Valeriy Rabota

Viktor Shayapov

Vitaliy Ushakov

Yegor Pogrebnyak

Abdukakhor Mumindzhanov

Adam Svarichevskiy

Aidar Aidarbekov

Aidar Tashbulatov

Aider Saledinov

Airat Shakirov

Akim Bekirov

Akmalchon Numonchonov

Alam Aliyev

Albert Shafiyev

Albert Valiullin

Aleksadr Filatov

Aleksandr Dubovenko

Aleksandr Ivshin

Aleksandr Korolev

Aleksandr Litvinyuk

Aleksandr Nikolayev

Aleksandr Parkov

Aleksandr Putintsev

Aleksandr Seredkin

Aleksandr Shevchuk

Aleksandr Skvortsov

Aleksey Berchuk

Aleksey Dyadkin

Aleksey Goreliy

Aleksey Trofimov

Alexander Kornev

Alidzhon Odinayev

Alim Karimov

Alim Sufianov

Alim Timkanov

Alisher Khusenov

Almaz Usmanov

Amet Suleymanov

Ametkhan Abdulvapov

Amir Khakimullin

Anas Gimazetdinov

Anatoliy Gorbunov

Anatoliy Marunov

Andrey Danielyan

Andrey Stupnikov

Andrey Vlasov

Anna Safronova

Ansar Osmanov

Anton Olshevskiy

Aramis Fazylov

Arsen Abkhairov

Arsen Avanesov

Arslan Salimzyanov

Artem Gerasimov

Artur Salimov

Artur Valov

Artyom Naumov

Asan Yanikov

Asgat Khafizov

Aydar Sageyev

Azamat Eyupov

Azamat Kayumov

Azat Adiyev

Azat Gataullin

Azat Lukmanov

Azat Zagiyev

Aziz Khidirbayev

Azizbek Inamov

Bakhrom Khamroev

Batyr Mukhametov

Bilyal Adilov

Bulat Makhmutov

Bulat Rakhmanov

Damir Abdrafikov

Danil Bagautdinov

Danil Kunakbayev

Danil Suvorov

Danis Abdarakhmanov

Danis Faizrakhmanov

Denis Antonov

Denis Peresunko

Denis Zagitdinov

Dmitriy Golik

Dmitriy Malevaniy

Dmitriy Terebilov

Dmitriy Zagulin

Dzhebbar Bekirov

Edem Smailov

Eduard Nizamov

Eldar Kantemirov

Elena Nikulina

Emil Dzhemadenov

Emil Shangareyev

Emil Ziyadinov

Emir-Usein Kuku

Enver Ametov

Enver Mamutov

Erfan Osmanov

Ernes Ametov

Ernes Seytosmanov

Ernest Ibragimov

Eskender Abdulganiev

Eskender Suleymanov

Fanis Akhmetshin

Farid Kryev

Farid Mustafayev

Farit Kharisov

Farit Sharifullin

Farkhod Bazarov

Farkhod Nodirov

Farrukh Makhkamov

Farrukh Mamayusupov

Gabdrakhman Naumov

Georgiy Nikulin

Igor Egozaryan

Igor Mamalimov

Igor Schmidt

Ilgiz Gimaletdinov

Ilgiz Salakhov

Ilnar Zinnatov

Ilnar Zyalilov

Ilnaz Safiullin

Ilshat Battalov

Ilsur Galeev

Inver Bekirov

Irek Mukhametov

Irek Nasirov

Irek Tagirov

Ismail Isaev

Ismet Ibragimov

Ivan Chaykovskiy

Ivan Matsitsky

Izzet Abdullayev

Khalil Mustafin

Khamid Igamberdyev

Khiramagomed Magomedov

Khunar Agayev

Komil Matiev

Konstantin Sannikov

Lenar Mukhamadeev

Lenar Saitov

Lenur Khalilov

Lenur Seydametov

Leonid Druzhinin

Linar Vakhitov

Lyudmila Shchekoldina

Maksim Beltikov

Maksim Puygin

Marat Saybatalov

Marat Tulyakov

Marlen Asanov

Marlen Mustafayev

Marsel Gimaliev

Medzhit Abdurakhmanov

Memet Belyalov

Mikhail Burkov

Mikhail Simonov

Mikhail Toptygin

Mirzobakhovaddin Kurbonov

Mukazhan Ksyupov

Murodzhon Sattorov

Muslim Aliyev

Nail Miniakhmetov

Nail Yunusov

Naimdjon Khodjayev

Nikita Moiseyev

Nikolai Ulitin

Nikolay Stepanov

Niyaz Ziyattinov

Oleg Danilov

Oleg Fedorov

Oleg Shidlovskiy

Olga Ivanova

Olga Panyuta

Osman Arifmemetov

Osman Seytumerov

Otabek Isomadinov

Parviz Zeynalov

Pavel Kazadaev

Pavel Khevronin

Pyotr Zhiltsov

Radik Akhmetov

Radik Imangulov

Radik Talipov

Radik Valiakhmetov

Radik Zaripov

Radmir Maksutov

Rafael Fattakhov

Rafis Idrissov

Rafis Khalilov

Raif Fevziyev

Rail Abdrakhmanov

Raim Ayvazov

Rainur Ibatullin

Refat Alimov

Remzi Bakirov

Remzi Memetov

Renat Galimov

Rinat Khannanov

Rinat Kiramov

Rinat Nurlygayanov

Rishat Girfanov

Riza Izetov

Roman Baranovskiy

Roman Mareyev

Ruslan Bariev

Ruslan Fatkullin

Ruslan Fattakhov

Ruslan Fomin

Ruslan Gabidullin

Ruslan Ilyasov

Ruslan Mesutov

Ruslan Nahaev

Ruslan Rakhmatullin

Ruslan Suleimanov

Ruslan Sungatov

Ruslan Zainullin

Ruslan Zeitullayev

Rustam Diarov

Rustem Abiltarov

Rustem Emiruseinov

Rustem Gallyamov

Rustem Ismailov

Rustem Khamzin

Rustem Murasov

Rustem Salakhudtinov

Rustem Seytkhalilov

Rustem Seytmemetov

Rustem Sheikhaliev

Rustem Tairov

Rustem Yamaliev

Ruzim Davletshin

Salekh Magamadov

Sardobek Siddikov

Seiran Khairedinov

Seiran Murtaza

Sergei Derzhipilsky

Sergey Afanasiyev

Sergey Ananin

Sergey Filatov

Sergey Kardakov

Sergey Klikunov

Sergey Korolev

Sergey Kosyanenko

Sergey Lyulin

Sergey Melnik

Sergey Shatalov

Sergey Shulyarenko

Sergey Tolokonnikov

Sergey Yermilov

Sergey Yuferov

Server Mustafayev

Server Zekiryayev

Servet Gaziyev

Seyran Saliyev

Seytumer Seytumerov

Seytveli Seytabdiyev

Shaban Umerov
Frank R. Wolf FoRB Victims List: Russia

www.uscirf.gov/victims-list

USCIRF Recommended for Country of Particular Concern

Russia

Updated September 2023

Shahboz Makhmudov

Shamil Sharipov

Sobirdzhon Burkhoddini

Sukhrob Ironov

Svyatoslav Yugov

Taras Kuzio

Teimur Abdullayev

Timur Gadiyev

Timur Ibragimov

Timur Khabibullin

Timur Uzbekov

Timur Yalkabov

Tofik Abdulgaziyev

Turatbek Osmonkulov

Ural Abdrakhimov

Ural Galiyev

Ural Yakupov

Urdash Abdullayev

Uzeir Abdullayev

Vadim Bektemirov

Vadim Davletbayev

Vadim Khabirov

Vadim Siruk

Valeriy Kriger

Valeriy Rogozin

Valeriy Slashchev

Vardan Zakaryan

Vasiliy Meleshko

Vasily Tkachyov

Viktor Stashevskiy

Vilen Avanesov

Vitaliy Komarov

Vladimir Bukin

Vladimir Ermolaev

Vladimir Maladyka

Vladimir Popov

Vladimir Sakada

Vladimir Skachidub

Vladlen Abduklkadyrov

Vyacheslav Vankov

Yaroslav Timofeyev

Yashar Muyedinov

Yashar Shykhametov

Yevgeniy Bitusov

Yevgeniy Ivanov

Yevgeniy Korotun

Yevgeniy Razumov

Yevgeniy Zhukov

Yevgeniy Zinich

Yevgeny Tarasov

Yuriy Chernyshev

Yuriy Yakovlev

Zafar Nodirov

Zafar Yakubov

Zavur Abdullayev

Zekirya Muratov

Zevri Abseitov

Zulfat Sabirzyanov

Released

Aleksandr Akopov

Aleksey Bogatov

Andrey Bochkarev

Andrey Murych

Artem Kim

Ilmir Abdullin

Maksim Morozov

Nikolay Nesterovich

Saveliy Gargalyk

Sergey Tyurin

Shamil Sultanov

Snezhana Bazhenova

Valeriy Moskalenko

Valeriy Tibiy

Vladimir Mavrin

Vyacheslav Boronos

Yevgeniy Fedin

Yevgeniy Fomashin

Yevgeniy Kayryak

Yuriy Usanov

Artur Kozhevnikov

Leonid Ponomaryov

Mykhailo Reznikov

Serhiy Karpenko

Tatyana Ponomaryov

Valentin Zhuravlov

Anton Dergalev

Arsen Abdullaev

Ilkham Karimov

Khoren Khachikyan

Maksim Khalturin

Marat Abdulgalimov

Mariya Karpova

Mariya Troshina

Nataliya Sorokina

Sergei Parfenovich

Valentin Osadchuk

Yurii Herashchenko

Airat Usmanov

Akhmet Dzhumayev

Aleksandr Shcherbina

Aleksey Budenchuk

Aleksey Miretskiy

Aleksey Ukhov

Aleksey Yershov

Andrey Andreyev

Andrey Kolesnichenko

Arsen Dzhepparov

Artur Kaltuyev

Azamat Abutalipov

Bekzod Bakirov

Dennis Christensen

Dmitriy Barmakin

Feliks Makhammadiyev

Gazybek Kubatov

Gennadiy German

Ibrahim Shavkatov

Ilgar Aliyev

Islambek Kamchybekov

Kanybek Uulu

Komil Odilov

Konstantin Bazhenov

Marat Dindarov

Ramil Gataullin

Renat Suleimanov

Roman Gridasov

Rustam Seidkuliev

Rustem Latypov

Sergey Britvin

Sergey Klimov

Sergey Polyakov

Shakir Kozhamkulov

Stanislav Moskvitin

Sukhrab Kaltuyev

Vadim Levchuk

Viktor Zimovskiy

Vladimir Alushkin

Vladimir AtrÑƒakhin

Yuriy Savelyev

Ziyavdin Dapayev

Zufar Mustafin

Unknown

Nikolai Bogoslavsky

Died in Custody

Dzhemil Gafarov

Not Released (continued)