Detention: On October 9, 2024, Russian security forces detained Vitalii Anatoliiovych Buryk in Kerch during a large-scale wave of searches in the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses. He was detained at his workplace—a boiler room—after which a search was conducted in his apartment where his minor daughter with a disability was present. On the same day, a criminal case was initiated against him under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code ('organization of the activities of an extremist organization'). Two days after his detention, the occupation court placed him under house arrest. Human rights defenders emphasize that the sole basis for his persecution was his peaceful religious activity, as Jehovah's Witnesses are legal in Ukraine, and the European Court of Human Rights has deemed the persecution of this community in Russia unlawful.

Sentence: On February 19, 2026, the Russian-controlled Kerch City Court found Vitalii Buryk guilty and sentenced him to 6 years in a general regime colony, along with 1 year of restricted freedom after release. Immediately after the verdict was announced, he was taken into custody in the courtroom. On May 12, 2026, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Crimea upheld the sentence. The human rights project 'Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial' recognized Vitalii Buryk as a political prisoner, and Ukrainian human rights organizations called his persecution another example of systematic suppression of freedom of religion in occupied Crimea.

Vitalii Anatoliiovych Buryk was born on October 7, 1971, in Svatove, Luhansk region. He grew up in a family with three children, and in his childhood, he was interested in sports and music. After graduating from technical school, he worked as an electrician and pump station operator at a thermal power plant. He has lived in Kerch for over thirty years, working in a boiler room. Together with his wife Halyna, he raises two daughters, one of whom has a disability and requires constant care. There is no information in open sources about his involvement in political activities or violent actions. Since 1994, he has been a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses religious organization. He was known only as a believer of the Jehovah's Witnesses religious community, which, after the Russian Supreme Court's decision in 2017, became the target of widespread repression in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories.

According to the Russian investigation, Buryk allegedly 'organized the activities of an extremist organization' by holding religious meetings and prayers. Vitalii categorically denied the charges and stated during the trial that he ceased participating in the activities of the liquidated legal entity in 2017 but never renounced his right to peacefully practice his faith. Human rights defenders emphasize that persecuting a person solely for religious beliefs contradicts international human rights protection standards.

During the trial, the prosecution claimed that Vitalii Buryk continued to organize religious meetings, read the Bible, and conduct joint prayers after the ban on Jehovah's Witnesses legal entities in Russia. The defense argued that these actions are an exercise of the constitutional right to freedom of conscience and religion and do not contain any signs of extremist activity. Human rights defenders also noted that the case materials lack evidence of calls for violence or any unlawful activity.

On February 19, 2026, the Russian-controlled Kerch City Court sentenced Vitalii Buryk to 6 years in a general regime colony and 1 year of restricted freedom after release. Immediately after the verdict was announced, he was taken into custody in the courtroom. On May 12, 2026, the Supreme Court of occupied Crimea rejected the defense's appeal, and the sentence became final.

Human rights defenders express particular concern about the situation of Vitalii's family. Before the arrest, he was one of the primary caregivers for his daughter with a disability, who requires constant support. During the search, Russian security forces conducted investigative actions in the presence of the child, which, according to human rights organizations, caused additional psychological trauma to the family.

The Crimean Tatar Resource Center, ZMINA, CrimeaSOS, and international organizations view Vitalii Buryk's case as part of a systematic campaign of persecution against Jehovah's Witnesses in occupied Ukrainian territories. Following the Russian Supreme Court's decision in 2017, Russia regularly initiates criminal cases against members of this religious community, although international institutions have repeatedly recognized such persecution as a violation of the right to freedom of religion.

As of July 7, 2026, Vitalii Buryk remains unlawfully detained. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations demand his immediate release, annulment of the unlawful sentence, and cessation of persecution of citizens for their religious beliefs.

Information used from open sources: ZMINA, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, CrimeaSOS, Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Radio Liberty, Ukrinform, Human Rights Project 'Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial', Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Photo: Crimean Tatar Resource Center.

Date updated: 07.07.2026