19 November 2025

UZBEKISTAN: Jailed, fined for uncensored religious materials

A Tashkent court jailed Muslim blogger Alisher Tursunov (Mubashir Ahmad) for two-and-a-half years for his online publications and ordered his sites closed. Tursunov did not appeal and is in labour camp in Navoi Region. A Samarkand court handed Anvar Aliyev a four-year suspended sentence for a Shia Muslim Telegram group. A Tashkent court fined Gayrat Ziyakhojayev for an officially-approved Imam's sermon. "It doesn't matter whether the religious materials are legal or illegal, you have to get the permission of the organs before publishing them," the Investigator told him.

14 November 2025

KAZAKHSTAN: Prosecutors stall criminal investigation into police torture of Jehovah's Witness

A court had to order Kentau Prosecutor's Office to begin a criminal investigation into police torture of and murder threats to Jehovah's Witness Daniyar Tursynbayev on 13 August. But prosecutors stalled the investigation, insisting that Tursynbayev – who fled to Almaty fearing for his safety – must testify in person. "This can't be done appropriately by video," says an official. No one has been arrested or tried. Lieutenant Colonel Baglan Yankin, who denies leading the torture, remains in post. "On what basis should I be removed from duty?" he asks.

12 November 2025

RUSSIA: Exiled Orthodox journalist facing criminal charges added to Wanted List

Russia's Interior Ministry Wanted List includes: 4 opponents of Russia's war against Ukraine on religious grounds; 7 Muslim Nursi readers from Russia; 15 Jehovah's Witnesses from Russia, 4 from Russian-occupied Crimea; 4 people wanted by Belarus; 3 wanted by Kazakhstan; 2 wanted by Tajikistan; 5 wanted by Uzbekistan. Most recently added was exiled Orthodox journalist Kseniya Luchenko. The Interior Ministry did not say why it includes people who peacefully exercised their right to freedom of religion or belief. Interpol would not say for how many of them Russia had sought Red Notices.

4 November 2025

RUSSIA: Bans on Council of Churches Baptist congregations "only growing"

Courts have now banned at least 10 Council of Churches Baptist communities for meeting without state permission. (These Baptists choose to meet without registration.) "This practice is only growing", says lawyer Sergey Chugunov. Six of the known lawsuits have been in Krasnodar Region. Krasnodar Region Prosecutor's Office did not respond to Forum 18's questions. Such bans often start with FSB or police surveillance, raids and prosecutions for "illegal missionary activity". Bans on churches' activities "must be overturned", Chugunov believes. The churches continue to meet despite the bans.

31 October 2025

BELARUS: KGB tried to use jailed priest to entrap nuncio?

KGB secret police officers offered to free jailed Catholic priest Fr Henryk Okolotovich if he agreed to plant material on the Vatican nuncio in an apparent attempt to compromise him. He refused. KGB officers said they would visit the priest again in prison "many more times, so that perhaps you will change your mind", released political prisoner Andrey Krylov recounted. KGB officers try to recruit informers in religious communities, both in Belarus and abroad. "The regime tries to incriminate the Church and its priests as spies," says one religious leader.

21 October 2025

RUSSIA: More long jail sentences, removals of citizenship

Courts handed at least 3 Jehovah's Witnesses long jail terms for exercising freedom of religion since September. A Samara court jailed Samvel Babayan for 7 years. A Saransk court jailed Ivan Neverov for 7 years, Mikhail Shevchuk for 6 years 6 months. Neither the court nor the Prosecutor's Office would explain the long jail terms or who Neverov and Shevchuk might have harmed. Interior Ministry officials rescinded Irina Khvostova's citizenship. Within minutes of release from prison on 13 October, police took Armenian citizen Vardan Zakaryan to prepare his expulsion.

20 October 2025

RUSSIA: Another Jehovah's Witness tortured during arrest

Armed National Guard personnel tortured 58-year-old Mikhail Proshenkov with a stun gun while searching his home on 3 September. Proshenkov was one of five Jehovah's Witnesses arrested during early-morning raids in Saratov. The National Guard in Saratov did not respond to Forum 18's questions on the torture, while Saratov Region Human Rights Commissioner Nadezhda Sukhova refused to answer. On two successive days, Zelenokumsk prison administration forced 60-year-old Jehovah's Witness Anna Safronova to stand for over 10 hours. Officials refused to open a criminal case against the perpetrators.

14 October 2025

KYRGYZSTAN: Did torture cause jailed Reform Adventist pastor's brain damage?

65-year-old True and Free Reform Adventist Pastor Pavel Shreider – serving a 3-year jail term – is in a prison medical unit after relatives raised concerns about brain damage apparently caused by torture. He has been "diagnosed with traumatic brain injury" resulting in "cognitive impairment", Major Azat Kudaybergenov, Chief of Prison No. 21 where he was held for 10 months, wrote to the family. Five United Nations Special Rapporteurs asked the regime about "arrests, detentions and alleged torture" of church members, Pastor Shreider's criminal prosecution, and banning of the Church as "extremist".