KYRGYZSTAN: Five Reform Adventists in 2-month pre-trial detention
Felix Corley, Forum 18
Late on 17 June, a Bishkek court ordered five members of the now-banned True and Free Reform Seventh-day Adventist Church held in pre-trial detention for two months. The three men and two women face criminal charges of "Production and distribution of extremist materials". If convicted as a group, each faces 5 to 7 years' imprisonment. A Bishkek-based commentator warns that the case "could establish a concerning precedent". Police Investigator Adilet Asanbayev says more Church members will be investigated. "This is a real threat to at least 20 others," says one Church member.
Please pray for these five brothers and sisters.
Shortly before midnight in the evening of 17 June, a Judge at Bishkek's Birinchi May (Pervomaisky) District Court ordered five members of the now-banned True and Free Reform Seventh-day Adventist Church held in pre-trial detention for two months. The five – three men and two women – face criminal charges of "Production and distribution of extremist materials". The case appears to relate to material the Church members had on their phones. If convicted of acting as a group, each faces a jail term of 5 to 7 years and a possible post-prison ban on specific activity.
Police are holding Yevgeny Zhuravsky, Igor Kozlov, Sergey Kozlov, Olga Selova and Valeriya Yantsen at Bishkek's Prison No. 21.
Up to 20 were initially detained. Five are in prison. Four are Kyrgyz citizens. Valeria is a Russian citizen and the prosecutor is pushing for 5-7 years in prison. The True and Free Adventists are pacifists and reject state registration for churches. That is why they are considered to be extremists and dangerous by the government.
There is now a two month time period before the court session begins. That is when any negotiations must take place for the release of these 5 people. After that, a negotiated fine and release gets very difficult. Valeria's mother is visiting from Russia to try and negotiate the release of her daughter, and then her expulsion to Kazakhstan or Russia. Most True and Free Adventists fled Kyrgyzstan last year after the imprisonment, torture and then release of the Russian pastor who was leading them. They fled to Russia, Kazakhstan, and parts of Europe. The remnant who remained were unable to leave, some due to financial or family reasons. These 5 will almost certainly flee from Kyrgyzstan once they are released. So, now local negotiations are taking place to see what kind of fines will be imposed, or whether the public prosecutor is seeking imprisonment and long prison sentences. We need to be praying for these people.
On Saturday 6 June, police raided at least seven homes of Church members in and around Bishkek where small groups of Church members had gathered (Saturday is a holy day for Adventists). Officers searched the homes and seized documents and mobile telephones. Officers then detained several of the Adventists and took them for questioning. They released all of them later that day (see below).
On 15 June, police summoned some of the True and Free Reform Adventists questioned earlier for further interrogation. Officers focused on whether the individuals had Church publications which officials had deemed "extremist". Police held the five for 48 hours. Investigator Asanbayev then applied to court to have them held for two months (see below).
Investigator Asanbayev told Church members he will look into the activity of other Church members and summon them for interrogation. He said he was looking to charge suspects as a group.
Another Church member describes the raids, searches and arrests as "a new wave of persecution". "The process of overturning the decision made against a church organisation illegally accused of extremism has not yet been completed," the Church member told Forum 18. "And now the remaining believing brothers and sisters have been subjected to further repression."
Forum 18 asked the Interior Ministry Press Service in Bishkek why Police launched the April raids, interrogations and criminal case against True and Free Adventists who have not committed violence against anyone or called for violence against anyone. Forum 18 has received no response to its questions.
A Bishkek-based commentator who has been following the case warns that it "could establish a concerning precedent". "There is a risk that such legal frameworks may be broadly applied to restrict the activities of unregistered religious minorities and penalise their members under the guise of combating extremism".
On 19 March 2025, Alamudin District Court in Chuy Region banned the True and Free Reform Adventist Church as an "extremist" religious organisation (for not registering with the State). The Supreme Court in Bishkek later rejected the Church's appeal against the ban. Indira Aslanova, Senior Expert of the Centre for Religious Studies, an independent organisation in Bishkek, described accusing the True and Free Adventists of "extremism" as "absurd.”
Please pray for these five individuals.
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