Six Jehovah’s Witnesses from Tomsk are political prisoners
Yana and Yevgeny Abramov, Tatiana and Yevgeny Dodolin, Aisulu Tastaibekova, and Vladimir Pushkov were taken into custody on charges of extremism
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Yana and Yevgeny Abramov, Tatiana and Yevgeny Dodolin, Aisulu Tastaibekova, and Vladimir Pushkov to be political prisoners. They are being pursued under the article on the organization of activity of an extremist organization. The criminal case of Jehovah’s Witnesses from Tomsk violates their right to religious freedom. We demand the immediate release of Jehovan’s Witnesses from custody and the cessation of their criminal prosecution.
What’s the case about?
On March 20, the security forces in Tomsk conducted searches on at least four addresses of local Jehovah’s Witnesses. After the search, three married couples were detained: Yana and Yevgeny Abramov, Tatiana and Yevgeny Dodolin, Aisulu Tastaibekova and Vladimir Pushkov. The next day, the court took the believers into custody.
Vladimir Pushkov was accused of the organization of activity of an extremist organization (art. 282.2 pt. 1, of the Russian Criminal Code), and all others – of participation in such activities ( art. 282.2 pt. 2, of the Russian Criminal Code)
Why do we consider imprisoned Jehovah’s Witnesses to be political prisoners?
On April 20, 2017, the Supreme Court of Russia issued a decision to recognize the Jehovah’s Witness Administrative Center in Russia as an extremist organization.
We believe that charges, brought solely on the grounds that people, being Jehovah’s Witnesses, participated in rituals and meetings, or distributed materials of this faith are discriminatory and violate international legal norms, particularly their right to freedom of religion. Prosecution under Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code is directly coming down to the fact that the believer was part of an organized religious group and is certainly unlawful.
On June 7, 2022, the European Court of Human Rights found the ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia and the persecution of believers to be illegal.
ECHR stated that Russia had violated the rights of believers on the freedom of religion (article 9 of the European Convention), freedom of expression (article 10), freedom of assembly and association (article 11) and also respect of property (article 1 of protocol 1 to the European Convention).
Our brief provides a detailed description of the case and the human rights project’s position.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project agrees with, or approves, their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
To write a letter, please contact:
In Russian:
634003, Томская область, г. Томск, ул. Пушкина, д. 48, СИЗО-1 УФСИН по Томской области,
Абрамов Евгений Николаевич, 1976 г.р.
Абрамова Яна Владимировна, 1981 г. р.
Тастайбекова Айсулу Зейнулаевна, 1972 г. р.
Додолина Татьяна Алексеевна, 1995 г. р.
Додолин Евгений Леонидович, 1984 г. р.
Пушков Владимир Владимирович, 1975 г.р.
In English:
Abramova Yana Vladimirovna (born 1981);
Tastaibekova Aisulu Zeinulaevna (born 1972);
Dodolina Tatiana Alekseevna (born 1995);
Dodolin Yevgeny Leonidovich (born 1984);
Pushkov Vladimir Vladimirovich (born 1975);
Abramov Yevgeny Nikolaevich (born 1976);
Remand Prison No. 1, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Tomsk Oblast, 48 Pushkin Street, Tomsk, Tomsk Oblast, 634003, Russia.
You can also send an email via the ZT service (for payment with Russian bank cards).
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the recipient.
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
