Updated: March 28, 2024
Name: Danielyan Andrey Emikovich
Date of Birth: March 13, 1969
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)
Time spent in prison: 80 day in a pre-trial detention, 427 day in prison
Sentence: punishment in the form of 6 years of imprisonment with serving in a penal colony of general regime, with deprivation of the right to engage in organizational activities in religious associations and religious organizations for a period of 5 years, with restriction of liberty for a term of 1 year
Currently held in: Penal Colony No. 8 in Omsk region
Address for correspondence: Danielyan Andrey Emikovich, born 1969, IK No 8 in Omsk Region, ul. Dokovskaya, 3, g. Omsk-89, Omsk region, Russia, 644089

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Biography

A resident of the small town of Rubtsovsk, Andrey Danielyan, to the surprise of his relatives and employer, was suspected of extremism. In May 2021, a criminal case was initiated against him, and in November 2022, the court sentenced him to 6 years in a penal colony.

Andrey was born in March 1969 in the city of Aleysk, Altai Territory, in the family of a builder and a seamstress. He is the oldest child in the family; he has a brother and sister.

As a child, Andrey was fond of music and sports: he learned the accordion at a music school, played football, volleyball and went swimming and fishing. After school, he qualified as an electrician, specializing in white appliances. In 1995, Andrey moved to the town of Rubtsovsk, where he lives to this day. He worked as a builder, plumber and janitor in a secondary school.

In 1997 Andrey married Nina, a music teacher by profession. Now she works as a hairdresser. In his free time, Andrey likes to play volleyball, checkers and listen to music. The Danielyans often spend time with friends and enthusiastically work in the garden and in the allotment: Nina grows vegetables and flowers and Andrey makes improvements to the property.

Andrey was worried about environmental issues. He followed the situation in the world, studied materials about the destructive influence of man on the planet and came to the conclusion that people cannot solve these problems on their own. Andrey learned that, according to the Bible, only God can do this. As a result, in 1992 he decided to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Andrey's wife and younger brother share his religious beliefs.

Stress caused by the criminal prosecution has had a negative effect on Andrey's health. For a long time, he and his wife experienced emotional strain. Relatives and colleagues consider the criminal prosecution and conviction unjust.

Case History

In May 2021, in the Altai Territory, security forces conducted a special operation codenamed “Armageddon”. Among the believers facing criminal prosecution was Andrey Danielyan from Rubtsovsk. The apartment of the Danielyan spouses was searched, and they themselves were interrogated. The man was accused of participating in extremist activities and included in the list of Rosfinmonitoring, blocking all his bank accounts and seizing cash collected for repairs. They took a written undertaking not to leave the place from the believer. Later, the investigator reclassified the charge from participation to organizing the activities of an extremist organization. The case went to court in August 2022. After 5 sessions, the court reached the stage of debate of the parties. The prosecutor requested 7 years in prison for Danielyan. In November 2022, the court sentenced him to 6 years in a penal colony. The appellate court upheld the verdict.