8 December 2025

KAZAKHSTAN: Fined, ordered deported, but torture unpunished

On 21 November, Kentau Town Court fined and ordered deported Jehovah's Witness Daniyar Tursynbayev – an Uzbek citizen - for posting on Telegram about his faith. Deportation is suspended, pending his appeal. "Deportation will separate Daniyar Tursynbayev from his wife and infant daughter - citizens of Kazakhstan - or force them to leave the country," Jehovah's Witnesses complain. "The conviction is based solely on testimony obtained under torture." Lieutenant Colonel Baglan Yankin – one of four police officers suspected of the torture – denies it. Tursynbayev "invented it all", he claims.

4 December 2025

RUSSIA: Orthodox priest tortured, prosecuted for "overt disrespect for society"

On 27 November, National Guard, Investigative Committee, and FSB officers raided an independent Orthodox church in Krasnodar Region. "They'd rummaged through the sanctuary, barbarously turning everything upside down", a church member noted. They arrested the 34-year-old Fr Iona Sigida and held him overnight. Investigators beat him, shocked him with a stun gun, and forcibly shaved him. Officials did not respond to Forum 18's questions about the torture. He is facing criminal charges for posts on the church website. Slavyansk City Court placed him under house arrest until January.

24 November 2025

BELARUS: Will regime allow freed Catholic priests to return to ministry?

Two Catholic priests, Fr Henryk Okolotovich and Fr Andrei Yukhnevich, who were handed long sentences at closed trials, were pardoned and freed from labour camp early on 20 November. They were taken to Minsk airport and are now in Rome. State news agency Belta claimed both had committed "serious crimes against the state". Both rejected all the accusations against them. It remains unclear if the regime will allow them to return to Belarus and resume parish ministry. Deputy Plenipotentiary for Religious and Ethnic Affairs Sergei Gerasimenya refused to say.

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.