Anna Safronova

A resident of Astrakhan. In June 2020, Safronova's home was searched. On May 28, 2021, she was prosecuted for participation in the activities of an extremist organisation and financing of such activities in connection with her involvement in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, attracting new supporters.

On June 2 Safronova was searched again and detained. The next day the court decided to put her under house arrest. On January 25, 2022, she was sentenced to six years in a general regime colony.

Since 2024, the authorities started to make life unbearable in the colony for Safronova. She was twice sent to solitary confinement after she refused to wear a St George ribbon. Despite constant pain in her legs, in December 2024, Safronova was prohibited to sleep in free lower tier beds in the cell and had to climb up to the upper tier.

On 22 March 2025, after morning formation, Safronova was taken to an airless room without windows or furniture, where she had to stand for ten hours. The next day she was again taken to this room, where she stood for 13 hours and was taken to the toilet only once. Safronova felt unwell, but was not allowed to see a doctor. According to the lawyer, when she asked why she was being tortured, she was told: "You have not been tortured yet". On March 26, her lawyer sent a request to the local police department to conduct a forensic medical examination and initiate a criminal case. The next day Safronova was again placed in solitary confinement.

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