Source: www.forum18.org
Date: November 12, 2025
https://www.forum18.org/archiv
By Felix Corley, Forum 18, and Victoria Arnold, Forum 18
The Interior Ministry Federal Wanted List now 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; and 5 wanted by Uzbekistan. The Interior Ministry did not
respond to Forum 18's question 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.
In September or October, Russia's Interior Ministry added journalist
Kseniya Luchenko to its Federal Wanted List after the Investigative
Committee launched a criminal investigation against her. Based outside
Russia, she runs a Telegram channel which posts independent news and
comment on the Russian Orthodox Church and supports priests who have
opposed Russia's war against Ukraine.
In September, the Investigative Committee in her native Moscow opened an
investigation into Luchenko on charges of "Public dissemination, under the
guise of credible statements, of knowingly false information on the use of
the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation". If tried and convicted, she
could face a maximum jail term of ten years' imprisonment plus a ban on
specific activity for up to five years (see forthcoming F18News article).
As of October, Russia's Interior Ministry had included in its Federal
Wanted List at least 44 individuals facing criminal charges to punish them
for exercising freedom of religion or belief or for reporting on violations
of this right. Fourteen of these individuals had been included on Russia's
list even though they were sought by the authorities of Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Tajikistan or Uzbekistan.
The 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 Jehovah's Witnesses from Russian-occupied Crimea;
- 4 people wanted by Belarus;
- 3 people wanted by Kazakhstan;
- 2 people wanted by Tajikistan;
- 5 people wanted by Uzbekistan.
The 44 individuals on Russia's Federal Wanted List for exercising freedom
of religion or belief are listed at the base of this article. Other
individuals on the Federal Wanted List include human rights defenders and
political opponents of the regimes in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Another Kazakhstan-born individual on Russia's list has the same name as a
Muslim refugee in Europe the Kazakh authorities tried unsuccessfully to
have extradited in 2019, but with a different birth year (see below).
If any of these individuals wanted in Russia are caught in Russia, arrive
in Russia or are caught in states that are friendly to Russia (such as
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan or Uzbekistan), they risk immediate arrest
as investigators complete any criminal case. If any are wanted by Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Tajikistan or Uzbekistan and are found in Russia, they risk
arrest and immediate transfer to that country.
Because Russia is in a customs union with Belarus and Kazakhstan, Russian
citizens can travel to these countries without documents. In December 2010,
however, the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States signed an
agreement to set up an inter-state wanted list (mezhgosudarstvenny rozysk)
for the CIS, enabling information-sharing and cooperation between their
state agencies when conducting searches.
This and the Federal Wanted List are part of a global pattern of
transnational repression, which Human Rights Watch
(https://www.hrw.org/report/20
the Norwegian Helsinki Committee
(https://nhc.no/en/transnation
and other human rights defenders have documented.
Russia's Federal Wanted List is maintained by the Interior Ministry, with
the possibility to search for individuals one at a time on its website. In
February 2024, independent Russian media outlet Mediazona published the
full list (https://zona.media/article/20
February 2024. Mediazona has since updated the list, most recently with
information as of September 2025
(https://zona.media/wanted?p=1
Among the tens of thousands of individuals wanted on criminal charges on
the database published by Mediazona are at least 44 people who are wanted
in connection with criminal cases opened against them because of their
exercise of the right to freedom of religion or belief. A further number
are on the list after going missing.
By September 2025, the Interior Ministry had removed two individuals
earlier included on the list for exercising freedom of religion or belief.
One was a Jehovah's Witness from Russia jailed in February. The other was a
Muslim from Uzbekistan who was deported from Turkey back to Uzbekistan in
May and jailed in October (see below).
The Interior Ministry did not respond to Forum 18's written questions in
February 2024 (https://www.forum18.org/archi
why the Federal Wanted List included Russian citizens who had peacefully
exercised their right to freedom of religion or belief, as well as citizens
of Belarus, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan who had exercised the same right.
Forum 18 also asked whether the Interior Ministry had sought Interpol Red
Notices for any of these people. Forum 18 received no response.
Some of the individuals on the database Mediazona published matched
individuals Forum 18 has previously identified as being on Russia's Federal
Wanted List.
Russia is known to have illegally asked Interpol to distribute Red Notices
to try to have other countries arrest and transfer at least some of these
individuals. Forum 18 sent Interpol a list of those on the Federal Wanted
List who Russia wants to punish for exercising freedom of religion or
belief, and asked for how many of them Russia had sought Red Notices.
Interpol did not answer this question either in February 2024 or November
2025 (see below).
"Since the Interpol General Secretariat implemented heightened supervision
and monitoring measures in relation to Russia in March 2022," Interpol told
Forum 18, "all outgoing Notices, Diffusions and messages from NCB Moscow
are first reviewed for compliance by the General Secretariat before being
shared with any member country" (see below).
Asked in March 2023, Yuliya Burenina of the National Central Bureau (NCB)
for Interpol of Russia's Interior Ministry in Moscow refused to explain why
Russia has sought Red Notices for individuals wanted for exercising their
freedom of religion or belief. "I'm not authorised to speak to
journalists," she told Forum 18 (see below).
Federal Wanted List – mechanisms and consequences
The Federal Wanted List (federalny rozysk) contains the names of those
subject to searches on a Russia-wide basis (not internationally), and
includes missing persons, men avoiding military service, and people who
have not paid debts or child support, as well as individuals who are the
subjects of criminal prosecution but whose whereabouts are unknown.
A number of state agencies, including the Federal Security Service (FSB),
the Interior Ministry, the Investigative Committee, Federal Customs
Service, and the Bailiff Service, can have individuals' names added to the
list. The police – part of the Interior Ministry – are responsible for
coordinating search activities.
Investigators can usually add a person to the Federal Wanted List only a)
after they have determined that he or she cannot be found at home or at the
homes of known acquaintances, and b) 6 months after they have put the
person's name on local and regional wanted lists and exhausted all search
options at those levels (although this may be accelerated in serious
cases).
Such a person may be a suspect in a criminal case, or may have been
formally charged with an offence, or may already be on trial. Search
measures are usually triggered if a person fails to appear for questioning,
or in court.
If an individual is added to the Federal Wanted List and remains in Russia,
they will be immediately arrested if they come to the attention of the
police – "attempting to hide" is grounds for arrest of a suspect under
Article 91 of the Criminal Procedural Code, and investigators may also go
to court to seek a detention order in absentia. Given that the Interior
Ministry notifies the traffic police, transport police, railway stations,
and airports, travelling around the country would itself carry significant
risk.
It is also likely that investigators will place family and acquaintances
under surveillance, including wiretapping, to monitor possible contact,
Narodny Yurist legal advice portal noted
(https://narod-yurist.ru/vsyo-
in June 2020.
When a wanted person is arrested, there is then a much greater chance that
they will be placed under stricter restrictive measures during their
investigation and trial than otherwise may have been the case – detention
rather than travel restrictions, for instance – as Krasnoyarsk lawyer
Aleksey Ivanov commented to legal news site Advokatskaya Gazeta
(https://www.advgazeta.ru/novo
in December 2023.
Adding someone to a wanted list is governed by Article 210 of the Criminal
Procedural Code. An investigator does this as part of the measures taken
upon suspension of an investigation which cannot continue in the absence of
the suspect/accused (although it can also be done during a preliminary
investigation). According to Article 78 of the Criminal Code, when an
investigation is formally suspended, the statute of limitations – the
period after which the alleged offender can no longer be prosecuted – is
also suspended.
"The limitation period resumes from the moment the accused is detained or
surrenders," Moscow lawyer Vadim Klyuvgant told Novaya Gazeta
(https://novayagazeta.ru/artic
in November 2022. "So even if the political situation in the country
changes, the search will not go away – until the criminal case is
terminated for some other reason or a court recognises the investigator's
decision on the search as illegal."
The statute of limitations stands at 2 years for minor crimes, 6 years for
crimes of medium severity, 10 years for severe crimes, and 15 years for
extremely severe crimes.
Jehovah's Witnesses and Muslims who read Nursi's works typically face
prosecution (https://www.forum18.org/archi
Criminal Code Article 282.2, Part 1 (deemed a severe crime) or Part 2 (a
medium-severity crime). People who have protested against the war on
religious grounds have been prosecuted
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Article 280.3, Part 1 (medium-severity), Article 207.3, Part 1
(medium-severity) or Part 2 (severe).
Russia's illegal requests to Interpol
If a person is believed to have left Russia, they are added to the
International Wanted List (mezhdunarodny rozysk) and a request is sent to
Interpol for a Red Notice; at the request of the investigator and if the
severity of the charge allows, a court may order the person's detention in
absentia (meaning that they would be immediately placed in custody at a
detention centre if they returned).
Russia is known to have illegally asked Interpol to distribute Red Notices
to try to have other countries arrest and transfer at least some of these
individuals. Interpol's Rules on the Processing of Data govern the
publication and circulation of Red Notices. The Rules state at Article 2
("Aims") that cooperation such as Red Notices should be "with due respect
for the basic rights of the persons who are the subject of the cooperation,
in accordance with Article 2 of the Organization's [Interpol's]
Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which the
said Article refers".
"This is a method Russia uses to intimidate people," an individual now
based outside Russia who had earlier been the subject of a
Russian-requested Interpol Red Notice told Forum 18 on 12 November 2025.
Russia issued two Red Notices
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Timur Atadzhanov in 2018 and Ashurali Magomedeminov in 2020. Both met with
other Muslims to study Islam using the works of the late Turkish Muslim
theologian Said Nursi. The third Red Notice was issued later in 2020
against a follower of another faith.
Asked in March 2023, Yuliya Burenina of the National Central Bureau (NCB)
for Interpol of Russia's Interior Ministry in Moscow refused to explain why
Russia has sought Red Notices
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
wanted for exercising their freedom of religion or belief. "I'm not
authorised to speak to journalists," she told Forum 18.
Forum 18 sent Interpol on 14 February 2024 a list of those on the Federal
Wanted List Russia is seeking to punish for exercising freedom of religion
or belief. Forum 18 asked Interpol
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
individuals Interpol had issued Red Notices on behalf of Russia. It also
asked for how many such cases Interpol had withdrawn such Red Notices.
Interpol's response of 15 February 2024 did not answer Forum 18's
questions. "National wanted lists are compiled by a country according to
its own criteria," the Interpol response declared
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
national wanted list are not automatically sent to Interpol, nor added to
our databases. All requests for Notices, including Red Notices are checked
by a specialized task force. Any request which is political, military,
religious or racial is refused."
"Since the Interpol General Secretariat implemented heightened supervision
and monitoring measures in relation to Russia in March 2022," Interpol
added, "all outgoing Notices, Diffusions and messages from NCB Moscow are
first reviewed for compliance by the General Secretariat before being
shared with any member country."
Forum 18 again asked Interpol in November 2025 whether Russia has sought
Red Notices for anyone on its current Wanted List, including for Kseniya
Luchenko. "Is there any reason to suggest this individual has a Red
Notice?" Interpol responded on 5 November. "It is not clear to me why you
would think there is one given the information you have sent over."
Bank accounts blocked for those facing "extremism"-related charges
For those wanted on "extremism"-related charges (such as Jehovah's
Witnesses and Muslims who read the works of Said Nursi), investigators can
request to have them added to the Federal Financial Monitoring Service
(Rosfinmonitoring) "List of Terrorists and Extremists"
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
are obliged to freeze (although small transactions are permitted).
==============================
44 on Federal Wanted List due to criminal cases against them for exercising
freedom of religion or belief
The 44 individuals on Russia's Federal Wanted List for exercising freedom
of religion or belief (plus one possible individual) are listed below.
Other individuals on the Federal Wanted List include human rights defenders
and political opponents of the regimes in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
- Opponents of Russia's war against Ukraine on religious grounds
As well as many convictions for Administrative Code offences
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
also convicted six people on criminal charges for opposing Russia's renewed
invasion of Ukraine on religious grounds: Fr Nikandr Pinchuk, Mikhail
Simonov, Anna Chagina, Fr Ioann Kurmoyarov, Archbishop Viktor Pivovarov,
and Pastor Nikolay Romanyuk
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
leader Ilya Vasilyev, was also found guilty but had his conviction
overturned on appeal in October 2025 – he is due to undergo a retrial
(see forthcoming F18News article).
1) Dmitry Leonidovich Bayev (born 1988), a Russian Orthodox Church deacon
who wrote to the Vyatka Diocese and said on social media that he could not
participate in services at which prayers were offered for the government
and armed forces. The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case
against him (https://www.forum18.org/archi
2022 of distributing "false information" about the Russian armed forces.
2) Nina Aleksandrovna Belyayeva (born 1989), Communist municipal deputy and
Baptist who had denounced the war at a local council meeting
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
3) Kseniya Valeryevna Luchenko (born 1979). Journalist, who lives outside
Russia, facing a criminal investigation for her posts on the Russian
Orthodox Church and priests who have opposed Russia's war against Ukraine
(see forthcoming F18News article).
4) Yury Kirillovich Sipko (born 1952), Baptist pastor and former head of
the Russian Baptist Union, who posted online a video clip denouncing the
invasion (https://www.forum18.org/archi
accused of distributing "false information" about the Russian armed forces.
- Muslim Nursi readers from Russia
Muslims who meet to study the writings of the late Turkish theologian Said
Nursi may be prosecuted under the Extremism Law for organising or
participating in the activities of "Nurdzhular" (derived from the Turkish
for "Nursi followers"). The Supreme Court banned this association as
"extremist" in 2008 (https://www.forum18.org/archi
but Muslims in Russia deny any such formal organisation ever existed. No
centralised or local religious organisation associated with Nursi's
teachings was registered in Russia before the ban. Typically, such Muslims
meet in homes to study Islam, with one or more expounding on Nursi's works.
They also pray, eat, and drink tea together, and do not seek state
permission to meet. Further criminal prosecutions continue
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
1) Timur Muzafarovich Atadzhanov (born 1988). Interpol distributed a Red
Notice (https://www.forum18.org/archi
behalf in 2020.
2) Ashurali Magomedshapiyevich Magomedeminov (born 1972). Interpol
distributed a Red Notice
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
2020. Interpol withdrew the Red Notice in 2022.
3) Parviz Yashar-Ogli Mamedov (born 1969). Wanted in Moscow, linked to a
group of Muslims readers of Nursi's works jailed in Moscow
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
4) Ilhom Zavkidinovich Merazhov
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
5) Nikolay Mironovich Nesterovich (born 1992)
6) Razhab Faizylgayanovich Shaimuratov (born 1960). Wanted in Moscow,
linked to a group of Muslims readers of Nursi's works jailed in Moscow
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
7) Anton Pavlovich Starodubtsev
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
- Jehovah's Witnesses from Russia
Jehovah's Witnesses have faced prosecution for continuing to meet, study
their faith, and worship after the Supreme Court banned all their
organisations as "extremist" in 2017
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
convicted more than 600 people
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
activities of an extremist organisation". Over 180 received prison terms,
with six men sentenced to eight years' imprisonment.
1) Vladimir Alekseyevich Krasnolutsky (born 1975)
2) Oleg Viktorovich Lonshakov (born 1977). Belarus refused Russia's
extradition request in 2021.
3) Aleksandr Alekseyevich Loshkarev (born 1958)
4) Nikolai Andreyevich Makhalichev (born 1984). Belarus refused Russia's
extradition request (https://www.forum18.org/archi
in 2020.
5) Vitaly Gennadyevich Maksimov (born 1980)
6) Igor Yevgenyevich Mironchik (born 1970)
7) Olga Vladimirovna Ponomaryova (born 1974)
8) Dmitry Andreyevich Prikhodko (born 1986)
9) Nikolai Sergeyevich Salmanov (born 1997)
10) Sergei Yuryevich Semenyuk (born 1976)
11) Sergei Alekseyevich Svetonosov (born 1975)
12) Aleksey Sergeyevich Volkov (born 1978)
13) Anna Vladimirovna Yermak (born 1982)
14) Yury Kirillovich Yumashev (born 1956)
15) Igor Vladimirovich Zhukov (born 1986)
In 2024 or 2025, Russia's Interior Ministry removed from its Wanted List
Aleksandr Mikhailovich Davydenko (born 1992). On 25 February 2025,
Pavlovskaya District Court in Krasnodar Region jailed him for 4 years and 2
months.
- Jehovah's Witnesses from Russian-occupied Crimea
Courts in Russian-occupied Crimea have handed jail terms of at least six
years to 14 Jehovah's Witnesses, with two suspended sentences and one of
assigned labour. Further criminal prosecutions continue
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
1) Aleksandr Viktorovich Kostenko
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
2) Mark Stepanovich Lyakh (born 1997)
3) Tadevos Derenikovich Manukyan
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
4) Ivan Aleksandrovich Yefanov (born 1984)
- People wanted by Belarus
Russia's Federal Wanted List includes many individuals wanted on criminal
charges in Belarus, including many human rights defenders
(https://spring96.org/en/news/
1) Vyacheslav Zygmundovich Borok (Barok) (born 1975). Catholic priest Fr
Barok was charged in July 2021
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
election fraud and regime violence, and fled to neighbouring Poland.
2) Yury Vyacheslavovich Roi (born 1978). Belarusian Orthodox priest Fr
Georgi Roi, who left Belarus in 2023
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
3) Pyotr Yanovich Rudkovsky (born 1978). Catholic layperson and regular
commentator on Vatican Radio's Belarusian Service
(https://belarus2020.churchby.
4) Andrei Nikolayevich Voshchuk (Vashchuk) (born 1984). Catholic priest
from Vitebsk jailed in 2022
(https://belarus2020.churchby.
for a total of 30 days. Left Belarus in August 2022.
- People wanted by Kazakhstan
The 3 individuals wanted by Kazakhstan were leaders of Almaty's New Life
Pentecostal Church who currently live in the United States. An Almaty court
jailed the 3 pastors in absentia for between four and five years
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
exercising freedom of religion or belief. The case was described as
"complete drivel" by Yevgeny Zhovtis of the Kazakhstan International Bureau
for Human Rights and the Rule of Law. "I have read the verdict. It is
nonsense." New Life Church has been told its problems will end if it pays
money to officials or collaborates with the National Security Committee
(NSC) secret police.
1) Maxim Alekseyevich Maximov (born 1970)
2) Larisa Anatolyevna Maximova (born 1963)
3) Sergei Borisovich Zaikin (born 1975)
The list also includes Atyrau-born Murat Umbetovich Bakrayev, giving a date
of birth of 28 September 1998. The Muslim of that name who gained refuge in
Europe and whose extradition from Germany the Kazakh authorities failed to
achieve in 2019 (https://www.forum18.org/archi
born in Atyrau on 28 September 1981.
- People wanted by Tajikistan
The 2 individuals wanted by Tajikistan are a married couple who are exiled
human rights defenders and journalists who have written about the regime's
multiple serious violations of human rights, including freedom of religion
or belief, committed against Ismaili Muslims
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Badakhshan Region. "This will not break us, and we will continue reporting
on human rights violations," Sarkorova told Forum 18 in February 2024
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
the Russian Federal Wanted List.
1) Rustamjon Saiburkhonovich Joniyev (born 1974)
2) Anora Badilzamonovna Sarkorova (born 1974)
- People wanted by Uzbekistan
1) Odilbek Yusupbekovich Khojabekov (born 1974). In December 2019 a
Tashkent court fined Khojabekov and ordered destroyed religious books
brought back from the haj. He was then punished under Criminal Code Article
246, Part 1 ("Smuggling, that is carriage through the customs border ..
without the knowledge of or with concealment from customs control ..
materials that propagandise religious extremism, separatism, and
fundamentalism") for earlier having a religious book on his mobile phone
which he subsequently deleted. The court handed him a five-year suspended
prison sentence, with a two-year probation period. In May 2021, a Tashkent
judge freed him from further supervision as he had abided by the
conditions. Prosecutors – with secret police backing – claimed he had
violated the conditions and launched a new criminal case. A court jailed
him in absentia for five years
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
2) Khanifa Yakubovna Mirganiyeva (born 1974). Wanted after her husband
Alijon Mirganiyev was jailed in October 2022 for seven years
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Uzbekistan from Turkey. The family think Mirganiyev was targeted in 2006 as
his wife Khanifa Mirganiyeva was teaching female family members to read the
Koran, Mirganiyev was praying and discussing Islam with other men, and
their children were being raised as Muslims.
3) Alisher Yakubovich Ismanov (born 1978). Mirganiyeva's brother, also
wanted in same case as the jailed Alijon Mirganiyev.
4) Mukhammad-Amin Alijon ugli Makhmudov (born 1995). Son of the jailed
Alijon Mirganiyev and wanted in same case.
5) Bairamali Nasrullayevich Yusupov (born 1979). Fled Uzbekistan in 2006.
Authorities questioned and tortured then prison of conscience Khayrullo
Tursunov (https://www.forum18.org/archi
to try to find out where Yusupov is. Yusupov told Forum 18 that "the
authorities claimed that almost everyone who [like himself] finished a
Turkish-run school and was active in mosques might be 'extremist'."
In 2025, Russia's Interior Ministry removed from its Wanted List Alisher
Ahmadovich Tursunov (born 1974). Known as Mubashshir Ahmad, former employee
of state-controlled Muslim Board, then head of Azon.uz religious news
website. Wanted since August 2023 under Uzbek Criminal Code Article 244-3
("Illegal production, storage, import or distribution of religious
literature"). He was in exile in Turkey, but the Turkish authorities
arrested him in May 2025 at Uzbekistan's request and deported him to
Uzbekistan. A Tashkent court jailed him on 8 October for 2 years and 6
months.
(END)
More reports on freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Russia
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
For background information see Forum 18's Russia religious freedom survey
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Forum 18's compilation of Organisation for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE) freedom of religion or belief commitments
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
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