Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Illustrative photo

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

One of Jehovah's Witnesses from Russia Was Arrested in Belarus. At Home, He Faces Criminal Prosecution for His Faith

Primorye Territory,   Belarus

On the morning of September 29, 2021, a 44-year-old Russian citizen Oleg Lonshakov was detained in his apartment in Brest due to the fact that he was put on the interstate wanted list in Russia. On October 1, the deputy prosecutor of the city E. A. Pashkevich decided to detain him until November 8, 2021 in pre-trial detention center No. 7 of the UDIN Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus in the Brest region.

Lonshakov learned from Belarusian law enforcement agencies that in Russia he was accused of "extremism" in a criminal case initiated on the basis of confessional affiliation. Oleg professes the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. Earlier, he had applied for political asylum in Belarus. The believer has been living in Belarus for more than a year and has a residence permit.

Before moving to Belarus, Lonshakov lived in the village of Tavrichanka (Primorye Territory), where a wave of searches took place in July 2020.

Case of Lonshakov in Tavrichanka

Case History
Oleg Lonshakov from Russia received a residence permit in Belarus and lived in Brest. On September 29, 2021, security forces came to his apartment and arrested him. The believer was placed in a temporary detention center for 2 days, after which he was sent to a pre-trial detention center until November 8. He learned from Belarusian law enforcement officers that Russia had opened a criminal case against him for extremism and put him on the interstate wanted list. On October 14, 2021, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Belarus refused to extradite Lonshakov to the Russian authorities and released him.
Timeline

Persons in case

Lonshakov
Oleg

Criminal case

Region:
Primorye Territory
Locality:
Tavrichanka
Court case number:
12002050015000033
Initiated:
May 28, 2020
Current case stage:
preliminary investigation
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Case History
Back to top