Stanislav Moskvitin is a political prisoner
An Omsk pastor was remanded in custody for organising the activities of a church designated as ‘undesirable’ for supporting Ukraine
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Stanislav Moskvitin a political prisoner. Moskvitin is being prosecuted on a criminal charge of organising the activities of an ‘undesirable’ organisation for conducting Christian worship. Moskvitin’s prosecution violates his rights to freedom of religion, association, and expression. We demand his immediate release and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
Who is Stanislav Moskvitin, and what are the charges against him?
In 2016, Stanislav Moskvitin and a group of fellow believers founded the New Creation Evangelical Christian Church in Omsk, where he was elected pastor. The church was officially registered.
In 2021, Moskvitin was prosecuted on charges of founding a non-profit organisation that infringed on individuals’ persons and rights and used violence against parishioners (Article 239, Part 1, of the Russian Criminal Code). Masked officers from the security services raided the church during a service and detained the pastor. On 13 March 2023, Moskvitin was sentenced to 18 months in a penal colony. In May, a court ordered the dissolution of the church. On 29 August 2023, a court converted his sentence to a suspended one.
In December 2024, Moskvitin was detained once again. According to the investigative authorities, he had continued to lead services and had shown video recordings from the ‘TCCN [Transformation Centre Covenant Network] Church Covenant.’ The TCCN is an international religious organisation which the Prosecutor General’s Office had designated as ‘undesirable’ six months previously on grounds that it supported the Ukrainian armed forces. On 14 January 2025, Moskvitin was remanded in custody on a charge of organising the activities of an ‘undesirable’ organisation (Article 284.1, Part 3). The pastor faces up to six years’ imprisonment if convicted.
Why do we consider Stanislav Moskvitin a political prisoner?
Russia’s legislation on ‘undesirable’ organisations is unconstitutional. The Russian authorities use this legislation to target political opponents, while designations that an organisation is ‘undesirable’ are made without judicial oversight and amount to arbitrary acts. This legislation should be rescinded and all related convictions quashed.
The TCCN Church Covenant is an international religious association that operates freely in the United States and Europe. Its ban in Russia is linked to the authorities’ claim that it supports Ukraine in its resistance to the Russian invasion. Under international law, Russia’s military action against Ukraine is illegal and criminal, while Ukraine’s defence against aggression is lawful and justified. Supporting Ukraine is therefore not a criminal act.
We also believe the earlier case against Moskvitin (for founding a religious group whose activities allegedly exercised violence against its members or in other ways harmed their health) was unlawful. Before the case was opened, neither the Ministry of Justice nor the Prosecutor’s Office had raised any concerns about the New Creation church. The charges were based on questionable expert analyses, the testimony of disgruntled parishioners and non-legal assessments of supposed ‘oddities’ in the behaviour of believers during worship. No evidence was presented in court that Moskvitin’s actions harmed anyone’s health, nor was any link established between his alleged ‘psychological influence’ and either harm to members’ health or the making of donations.
Moskvitin’s prosecution is part of a campaign by the Russian authorities to suppress independent religious organisations.
A detailed description of Stanislav Moskvitin’s case and of our position is available on our website.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project agrees with, or approves, their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
