Jehovah’s Witness Anna Safronova is harassed in the penal colony because of her refusal to wear a St George’s ribbon

Jehovah’s Witness Anna Safronova, serving her sentence in penal colony IK-7 in Stavropol Krai, has been under pressure since 2024 because of her refusal to wear a St George’s ribbon: the believer is sent to a punitive isolation cell and is not provided with medical care, according to the website ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses. Legal situation in Russia”. The black and orange striped ribbon has become a controversial symbol widely associated with the pro-war and pro-Putin stance. 

On 22 and 23 March 2025, the believer was forced to stand for 10 and 13 hours in a room without windows or furniture. Safronova’s legs are ailing, and after such abuse they are bruised and swollen, making it difficult for her to walk. Anna Safronova’s lawyer had to call an ambulance to stop the torture.

On 26 March, Safronova’s lawyer filed a complaint with a request to check the actions of the colony staff and to initiate criminal proceedings against those responsible for the abuse.

The next day Anna Safronova was sent to the same punitive isolation cell for 20 days. During one of the previous sentences in the punitive isolation centre, Anna had a severe cough and due to the fact that she was not given medication, her bronchitis got worse.

On 21 March 2025, another Jehovah’s witness Valery Bailo died due to lack of medical care in pre-trial detention centre №3 in Novorossiysk.