RUSSIA: Revocation of citizenship after extremism convictions "gaining momentum"

Born in Soviet Uzbekistan, Rustam Diarov had his Russian citizenship revoked in February 2025 while he was in jail to punish him for participation in Jehovah's Witness meetings. On 17 February 2026, prison authorities released Diarov early on health grounds and by the following evening he was in Uzbekistan. His wife, a Russian citizen, went with him. Interior Ministry authorities have revoked the Russian citizenship of at least 12 Jehovah's Witnesses and 2 Muslims convicted for exercising freedom of religion. The practice "has been gaining momentum over the past year", Jehovah's Witnesses observe.