Armed National Guard personnel tortured 58-year-old Mikhail Proshenkov with a stun gun while searching his home on 3 September. Proshenkov was one of five Jehovah’s Witnesses arrested during early-morning raids in Saratov. The National Guard in Saratov did not respond to Forum 18’s questions on the torture, while Saratov Region Human Rights Commissioner Nadezhda Sukhova refused to answer. On two successive days, Zelenokumsk prison administration forced 60-year-old Jehovah’s Witness Anna Safronova to stand for over 10 hours. Officials refused to open a criminal case against the perpetrators.

Armed National Guard personnel tortured 58-year-old Jehovah’s Witness Mikhail Proshenkov with a stun gun while searching his home on 3 September. Proshenkov was one of five Jehovah’s Witnesses arrested during early-morning raids on several households in Saratov. Investigators subsequently charged the five with organising the activities of a banned “extremist” organisation for continuing to meet for worship.

Proshenkov’s wife has appealed to prosecutors and other state agencies to investigate the assault. It is unknown whether any criminal case has yet been opened

The National Guard (Rosgvardiya) – which reports to the President – typically provides armed support to investigators in such situations.

Forum 18 wrote to the Saratov Region branches of the Federal Security Service (FSB) and National Guard, asking:
– why they had considered it necessary to use physical force against Proshenkov;
– why officers had allegedly tortured him with a stun gun;
– and whether the personnel involved had been suspended or placed under investigation.
The Saratov Region FSB responded, telling Forum 18 to submit questions online to the FSB headquarters in Moscow. The Saratov Region National Guard did not respond

Forum 18 also wrote to the Saratov Region Investigative Committee, Saratov Region Prosecutor’s Office, the General Prosecutor’s Office, and both the federal and regional human rights commissioners asking:
– whether an investigation had been opened;
– and whether the officers who allegedly tortured Proshenkov had been suspended from duty and arrested.
Only the Saratov Region Human Rights Commissioner Nadezhda Sukhova responded, stating only that “your request has been declined”

Jehovah’s Witnesses have frequently reported experiencing physical assault, inhumane treatment, and threats during raids by Police, the Federal Security Service (FSB) or other state agencies. Officials are also known to have inflicted torture during some interrogations and in some prison system institutions

According to Jehovah’s Witness lawyers, none of the perpetrators has been subject to criminal investigation or has faced any consequences, and no victim has received any form of compensation

Jehovah’s Witnesses describe the case of 60-year-old jailed Anna Safronova as a “particularly telling example” of “inhumane treatment”. In 2024 and 2025, the correctional colony administration repeatedly placed Safronova in a punishment cell for “fabricated violations” and failed to give her proper treatment when she fell ill. Jehovah’s Witnesses attributed this treatment to Safronova’s refusal to wear an orange and black St George’s ribbon (seen as a sign of support for the Russian Armed Forces). Jehovah’s Witnesses believe they should remain politically neutral

In March 2025, Zelenokumsk prison officials forced Safronova to stand for ten hours in an empty, windowless room, under threat of a penalty if she sat on the floor. She suffered badly swollen legs after standing for so long, and was forced to stand again for thirteen hours the following day, during which she was permitted to use the toilet only once

Despite Safronova subsequently finding it hard to walk, the administration did not allow her to see a doctor, and she was only treated after her lawyer called an ambulance. Officials rejected her lawyer’s request for the Interior Ministry to carry out a forensic medical examination and initiate a criminal case against the correctional colony administration

On 29 September, Russia formally withdrew from the Council of Europe’s European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The European Union’s European External Action Service called this “one more step in Russia’s complete disengagement from its international commitments and clearly demonstrates Russia’s disregard for the protection of human rights”