Google machine translation
The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one’s belief or religion
The right to join together and express one’s belief
KYRGYZSTAN: Did torture cause jailed Reform Adventist pastor's brain damage?
65-year-old True and Free Reform Adventist Pastor Pavel Shreider – serving a 3-year jail term – is in a prison medical unit after relatives raised concerns about brain damage apparently caused by torture. He has been "diagnosed with traumatic brain injury" resulting in "cognitive impairment", Major Azat Kudaybergenov, Chief of Prison No. 21 where he was held for 10 months, wrote to the family. Five United Nations Special Rapporteurs asked the regime about "arrests, detentions and alleged torture" of church members, Pastor Shreider's criminal prosecution, and banning of the Church as "extremist".
The prison authorities transferred 65-year-old jailed True and Free Reform Adventist Pastor Pavel Shreider to the medical unit of Prison No. 31 near Bishkek on 25 September after the family raised concerns about his health. "As also seen from the official medical examination paper, he has developed encephalopathy, which is brain damage, and which has affected his general health," his family complained. The transfer has delayed hearings of his appeal at Bishkek City Court against his 3-year jail term.
The prison authorities had held Pastor Shreider at Prison No. 21 in Bishkek for 10 months following his November 2024 arrest. "He has been examined multiple times by doctors at Institution No. 21, and diagnosed with traumatic brain injury" which has resulted in "cognitive impairment", Major Azat Kudaybergenov, Chief of Prison No. 21, wrote to the family on 22 September 2025 in a letter seen by Forum 18 (see below).
"Several factors" may have contributed to Pastor Shreider's condition, his family told Forum 18. "Firstly, he is of an older age. The prison regime is not conducive for his body movement or exercise and his blood circulation is bad. Secondly, he probably has stress every day because of his arrest. And lastly and maybe most importantly, he was beaten by the police officers when he was arrested and given blows to his head" (see below).
No one has ever been prosecuted for the torture of Pastor Shreider or three other church members detained at the same time in November 2024. Officials who participated in the arrest and investigation of Pastor Shreider earlier denied to Forum 18 that they had tortured the church members (see below).
On 23 July, five United Nations Special Rapporteurs – including Nazila Ghanea, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief – wrote to the regime with their concerns about the "arrests, detentions and alleged torture" of members of the True and Free Reform Adventist Church, as well as the subsequent criminal prosecution of Pastor Shreider. They also noted the 19 March 2025 court ruling banning the Church as "extremist" (see below).
"Serious allegations of torture and ill-treatment have been made with regard to Mr. Schreider and the other male members of the congregation during their detention," the Special Rapporteurs told the regime. "It is reported that the male and female members of the group witnessed [NSC secret police] officers striking the heads and bodies of the seven male members of the group, including Mr. Schreider, Mr. [Yuri] Pauls, Mr. Igor Tsoi, Mr. Peter Petkau, all of whom reported ill-treatment in detention. It is reported that Mr. Schreider and Mr. Tsoi were additionally subjected to strangulation with cellophane bags and the use of tasers" (see below).
The Special Rapporteurs asked the regime for comments on their actions against the True and Free Adventists and about Pastor Shreider's current state of health. They also asked how Pastor Shreider's prosecution and the court-imposed ban on the Church are "compatible with the international human rights obligations". They also asked what measures had been taken to "investigate the credible accusations" of torture against the four Church members (see below).
The regime responded with a brief reply in Russian on 20 September, according to the UN Special Procedures communication website (see below).
National Agency for Religious Affairs and Interethnic Relations Deputy Director Kanatbek Midin uuly did not answer his phone each time Forum 18 called, He did not respond to written questions about the regime's moves against the True and Free Reform Adventists (see below).
The regime has jailed others for exercising freedom of religion or belief. The 37-year-old Muslim prisoner of conscience Asadullo Madraimov has been jailed since October 2023 for criticising the authorities for closing Kara-Suu District's Al-Sarakhsi Mosque. He is now due for release in February 2026. Another member of the community, Mamirzhan Tashmatov, was freed from prison in May 2024. In July 2023, a court jailed Protestant Aytbek Tynaliyev for 6 months for allegedly "inciting religious enmity" for social media posts sharing his faith.
The True and Free Reform Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kyrgyzstan is part of a reform movement within Adventism that emerged during the Soviet period. (It is separate from the Seventh-day Adventist Church, with its headquarters in the United States.) One of its leaders, prisoner of conscience Vladimir Shelkov, died in a Soviet labour camp in 1980.
The Church – which is led by Pastor Pavel Shreider - chooses not to seek state registration. Exercising freedom of religion or belief without state registration is illegal and punishable.
The Church can no longer meet for worship because of the ban. It previously met in its place of worship in the village of Lenin in Alamudun District of Chuy Region, just north of Bishkek.
The regime has previously banned Ahmadi Muslims, and cancelled the state registration or a Falun Gong association. It opened a criminal case against Jehovah's Witnesses in 2019 (which appears not to have been closed). It raided the Bishkek congregation of the Council of Churches during a harvest festival worship meeting in September 2025 and police summarily fined two congregation leaders. Bishkek's Sverdlov District Court is due to hear their appeal on 17 October.
National Agency for Religious Affairs and Interethnic Relations Deputy Director Kanatbek Midin uuly did not answer his phone on 9 and 10 October. He did not respond to written questions sent on 9 October about the regime's moves against the True and Free Reform Adventists.
The National Security Committee (NSC) secret police arrested the head of the True and Free Adventist Church, Pavel Davidovich Shreider (born 10 January 1960), in Bishkek in November 2024. Officers searched his home and those of about 10 other church members. They seized thousands of books, including Bibles, as well as cash and mobile phones.
The NSC secret police later returned the 2,196 books they confiscated during the November 2024 raids. The NSC handed back about 80 per cent of the books in spring 2025. It returned the rest in September, one individual told Forum 18 on 14 October.
After their arrest, NSC secret police officers tortured Pastor Shreider and another detained church member Igor Tsoy during interrogations. "I was given blows on my head, chest and given kicks in my spine from behind by five officers," Pastor Shreider wrote in a November 2024 complaint to the National Centre for the Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in Bishkek. Officers "hit me with an iron pipe to force me to confess that I committed crimes".
NSC secret police officers used a stun gun to try to coerce Tsoy to write a statement against Pastor Shreider, causing multiple injuries. However, Tsoy refused to do so.
The National Centre for the Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment claimed that the torture cannot be corroborated. Officials who participated in the arrest and investigation of Pastor Shreider denied that officers tortured Pastor Shreider and church member Tsoy.
Church members complained in writing to the United Nations in Geneva in December 2024 about the raids on their community, the detentions and torture, church members told Forum 18.
On 4 August, Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Court in Bishkek rejected the appeal against the ban. "The whole process took 20 minutes when the Judges decided to go into their chamber for discussion and they came out in a couple of minutes and announced that they upheld the previous decision," Church members told Forum 18. The Supreme Court upheld the ban permanently, and there is no possibility of challenging it in Kyrgyzstan.
In September, church members lodged a further appeal to the United Nations Human Rights Committee in Geneva, church members told Forum 18.
From his arrest in November 2024, Pastor Pavel Shreider was held for 10 months under NSC secret police supervision at Prison No. 21 in Bishkek.
On 12 September, Vera Shreider, Pastor Shreider's daughter, appealed to Prison No. 21 over the state of health of her father. She asked for her father to be given appropriate medical care. "As also seen from the official medical examination paper, he has developed encephalopathy, which is brain damage, and which has affected his general health," his family complained. "We already saw him very weak during the 9 September appeal hearing in the court room, and in writing demanded the prison authorities to transfer him to the medical unit for treatment. They only transferred him more than two weeks later."
Major Azat Kudaybergenov, Chief of Prison No. 21, responded to Vera Shreider on 22 September. "He has been examined multiple times by doctors at Institution No. 21, and diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) with cephalic syndrome. Stage 2 cerebrovascular insufficiency of mixed origin, with cognitive impairment," Major Kudaybergenov wrote, in a letter seen by Forum 18.
"The necessary examinations and treatment have been prescribed," Major Kudaybergenov claimed. "He is currently under the supervision of medical staff at Institution No. 21. He is scheduled for inpatient treatment at the medical unit of correctional facility No. 31."
The family told Forum 18 that they believe that "several factors" may have contributed to Pastor Shreider's condition. "Firstly, he is of an older age. The prison regime is not conducive for his body movement or exercise and his blood circulation is bad. Secondly, he probably has stress every day because of his arrest. And lastly and maybe most importantly, he was beaten by the police officers when he was arrested and given blows to his head."
On 25 September, the prison authorities transferred Pastor Shreider to the medical unit of Prison No. 31. The strict-regime prison – which is headed by Zhumadil Ybyshov - is located some 20 kms (12 miles) north east of Bishkek, close to the border with Kazakhstan. Although Pastor Shreider is serving a general-regime labour camp sentence, the authorities took him to the strict-regime camp because it is the only one with an appropriate medical unit.
Pastor Shreider's family were last able to see him in person in Prison No. 31 on 26 September, when he looked weak. They have since been able to travel to the labour camp, but only to talk with doctors.
On 14 October, the prison authorities began the process of transferring Pastor Shreider back to Prison No. 21 in Bishkek. But the state of his health prevented this, his family told Forum 18. They say the authorities expect to be able to transfer him back there in a week or so.
Officials at Prison No. 21 and Prison No. 31 did not answer the phone between 10 and 14 October.
The address of Prison No. 31 where Pastor Shreider is currently held:
Chuy oblusu
Alamudun raionu
Moldovanovka aiyly
Molodezhnaya kach. 2a/1
No. 31 Tuzatuu Mekemesi
On 10 July 2025, nearly three months after his criminal trial began, Bishkek's Birinchi May (Pervomaisky) District Court convicted Pastor Pavel Shreider on charges of "incitement of racial, ethnic, national, religious, or regional enmity". Judge Ubaydulla Satimkulov jailed the 65-year-old Pastor for three years in a general regime labour camp. The Judge ordered his deportation to Russia at his own cost at the end of the prison term.
Pastor Shreider's defence lawyer Akmat Alagushev lodged an appeal against his conviction and jail term to Bishkek City Court on 7 August. The Court assigned the case to Judge Kymbat Arkharova. Hearings began in early September.
Bishkek City Court was scheduled to resume hearing Pastor Shreider's appeal in late September. But because he was transferred to the medical unit, the Court postponed the appeal to 7 October, his family told Forum 18. "But on that day, according to the Court officials, the internet connection with the medical unit did not work. Since [Shreider] cannot participate in the hearing in person the Court decided to reschedule the hearing to 14 October."
On 14 October, when officials were still preparing to transfer Shreider to Prison No. 21, Bishkek City Court claimed that the internet connection to Prison No. 31 "could not be established", Pastor Shreider's family told Forum 18. The appeal hearing was once again rescheduled to 21 October.
Bishkek City Court and Judge Arkharova did not answer the phone on 14 October.
On 23 July, five United Nations Special Rapporteurs – including Nazila Ghanea, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief – wrote to the regime (AL KGZ 4/2025) about the "arrests, detentions and alleged torture" of members of the True and Free Reform Adventist Church, as well as the subsequent criminal prosecution of Pastor Pavel Shreider.
The Special Rapporteurs also noted the 19 March 2025 court ruling banning the True and Free Reform Adventist Church as "extremist".
"While we do not wish to prejudge the accuracy of these allegations, we wish to express our serious concerns regarding the arrest, detention and prosecution of Mr. Pavel Schreider, along with the alleged use of torture and other ill-treatment against Messrs. Pavel Schreider, Igor Tsoi, Sergei Sharvan, and Yuri Pauls," the Special Rapporteurs wrote. They pointed out that "If the above allegations would prove to be accurate, they would be in contravention" of various articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
"Serious allegations of torture and ill-treatment have been made with regard to Mr. Schreider and the other male members of the congregation during their detention," the Special Rapporteurs told the regime. "It is reported that the male and female members of the group witnessed SNCS officers striking the heads and bodies of the seven male members of the group, including Mr. Schreider, Mr. Pauls, Mr. Igor Tsoi, Mr. Peter Petkau, all of whom reported ill-treatment in detention. It is reported that Mr. Schreider and Mr. Tsoi were additionally subjected to strangulation with cellophane bags and the use of tasers."
The Special Rapporteurs note that requests by Pastor Shreider's lawyer for an investigation into the secret police's use of torture against him were sent from one agency to another with no result. "This means that the pre-investigative check, which by law should be conducted on such allegations, and the criminal investigation itself, was not conducted," the Special Rapporteurs complain.
The Special Rapporteurs asked the regime for further information or comments on their actions against the True and Free Adventists and about Pastor Shreider's current state of health. They also asked how Pastor Shreider's prosecution and the court-imposed ban on the Church are "compatible with the international human rights obligations", including under the ICCPR. They also asked what measures had been taken to "investigate the credible accusations" of torture against the four Church members.
More reports on freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Kyrgyzstan
For more background, see Forum 18's Kyrgyzstan religious freedom survey
Forum 18's compilation of Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) freedom of religion or belief commitments
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Officials take handcuffs off Pavel Shreider, Birinchi May District Court, Bishkek, 10 July 2025
Private
"Several factors" may have contributed to Pastor Shreider's condition, his family told Forum 18. "Firstly, he is of an older age. The prison regime is not conducive for his body movement or exercise and his blood circulation is bad. Secondly, he probably has stress every day because of his arrest. And lastly and maybe most importantly, he was beaten by the police officers when he was arrested and given blows to his head" (see below).
No one has ever been prosecuted for the torture of Pastor Shreider or three other church members detained at the same time in November 2024. Officials who participated in the arrest and investigation of Pastor Shreider earlier denied to Forum 18 that they had tortured the church members (see below).
On 23 July, five United Nations Special Rapporteurs – including Nazila Ghanea, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief – wrote to the regime with their concerns about the "arrests, detentions and alleged torture" of members of the True and Free Reform Adventist Church, as well as the subsequent criminal prosecution of Pastor Shreider. They also noted the 19 March 2025 court ruling banning the Church as "extremist" (see below).
"Serious allegations of torture and ill-treatment have been made with regard to Mr. Schreider and the other male members of the congregation during their detention," the Special Rapporteurs told the regime. "It is reported that the male and female members of the group witnessed [NSC secret police] officers striking the heads and bodies of the seven male members of the group, including Mr. Schreider, Mr. [Yuri] Pauls, Mr. Igor Tsoi, Mr. Peter Petkau, all of whom reported ill-treatment in detention. It is reported that Mr. Schreider and Mr. Tsoi were additionally subjected to strangulation with cellophane bags and the use of tasers" (see below).
The Special Rapporteurs asked the regime for comments on their actions against the True and Free Adventists and about Pastor Shreider's current state of health. They also asked how Pastor Shreider's prosecution and the court-imposed ban on the Church are "compatible with the international human rights obligations". They also asked what measures had been taken to "investigate the credible accusations" of torture against the four Church members (see below).
The regime responded with a brief reply in Russian on 20 September, according to the UN Special Procedures communication website (see below).
National Agency for Religious Affairs and Interethnic Relations Deputy Director Kanatbek Midin uuly did not answer his phone each time Forum 18 called, He did not respond to written questions about the regime's moves against the True and Free Reform Adventists (see below).
The regime has jailed others for exercising freedom of religion or belief. The 37-year-old Muslim prisoner of conscience Asadullo Madraimov has been jailed since October 2023 for criticising the authorities for closing Kara-Suu District's Al-Sarakhsi Mosque. He is now due for release in February 2026. Another member of the community, Mamirzhan Tashmatov, was freed from prison in May 2024. In July 2023, a court jailed Protestant Aytbek Tynaliyev for 6 months for allegedly "inciting religious enmity" for social media posts sharing his faith.
True and Free Reform Seventh-day Adventist Church
Pastor Pavel Shreider and his wife Nelya, 11 November 2024
Vera Shreider
The Church – which is led by Pastor Pavel Shreider - chooses not to seek state registration. Exercising freedom of religion or belief without state registration is illegal and punishable.
The Church can no longer meet for worship because of the ban. It previously met in its place of worship in the village of Lenin in Alamudun District of Chuy Region, just north of Bishkek.
The regime has previously banned Ahmadi Muslims, and cancelled the state registration or a Falun Gong association. It opened a criminal case against Jehovah's Witnesses in 2019 (which appears not to have been closed). It raided the Bishkek congregation of the Council of Churches during a harvest festival worship meeting in September 2025 and police summarily fined two congregation leaders. Bishkek's Sverdlov District Court is due to hear their appeal on 17 October.
National Agency for Religious Affairs and Interethnic Relations Deputy Director Kanatbek Midin uuly did not answer his phone on 9 and 10 October. He did not respond to written questions sent on 9 October about the regime's moves against the True and Free Reform Adventists.
Regime crushes True and Free Reform Adventist Church
Igor Tsoy's wounds from NSC torture, 14 November 2024
Private
The NSC secret police later returned the 2,196 books they confiscated during the November 2024 raids. The NSC handed back about 80 per cent of the books in spring 2025. It returned the rest in September, one individual told Forum 18 on 14 October.
After their arrest, NSC secret police officers tortured Pastor Shreider and another detained church member Igor Tsoy during interrogations. "I was given blows on my head, chest and given kicks in my spine from behind by five officers," Pastor Shreider wrote in a November 2024 complaint to the National Centre for the Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in Bishkek. Officers "hit me with an iron pipe to force me to confess that I committed crimes".
NSC secret police officers used a stun gun to try to coerce Tsoy to write a statement against Pastor Shreider, causing multiple injuries. However, Tsoy refused to do so.
The National Centre for the Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment claimed that the torture cannot be corroborated. Officials who participated in the arrest and investigation of Pastor Shreider denied that officers tortured Pastor Shreider and church member Tsoy.
Church members complained in writing to the United Nations in Geneva in December 2024 about the raids on their community, the detentions and torture, church members told Forum 18.
Court bans True and Free Reform Adventists as "extremist"
On 19 March, Alamudin District Court in Chuy Region banned the True and Free Reform Adventist Church as an "extremist" religious organisation. The civil case had been brought by Chuy Region Prosecutor's Office with the close involvement of the NSC secret police.On 4 August, Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Court in Bishkek rejected the appeal against the ban. "The whole process took 20 minutes when the Judges decided to go into their chamber for discussion and they came out in a couple of minutes and announced that they upheld the previous decision," Church members told Forum 18. The Supreme Court upheld the ban permanently, and there is no possibility of challenging it in Kyrgyzstan.
In September, church members lodged a further appeal to the United Nations Human Rights Committee in Geneva, church members told Forum 18.
Arrested Pastor Shreider transferred to prison medical unit because of brain damage
Prison No. 31, Moldovanovka, 2025
Airbus/Google
On 12 September, Vera Shreider, Pastor Shreider's daughter, appealed to Prison No. 21 over the state of health of her father. She asked for her father to be given appropriate medical care. "As also seen from the official medical examination paper, he has developed encephalopathy, which is brain damage, and which has affected his general health," his family complained. "We already saw him very weak during the 9 September appeal hearing in the court room, and in writing demanded the prison authorities to transfer him to the medical unit for treatment. They only transferred him more than two weeks later."
Major Azat Kudaybergenov, Chief of Prison No. 21, responded to Vera Shreider on 22 September. "He has been examined multiple times by doctors at Institution No. 21, and diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) with cephalic syndrome. Stage 2 cerebrovascular insufficiency of mixed origin, with cognitive impairment," Major Kudaybergenov wrote, in a letter seen by Forum 18.
"The necessary examinations and treatment have been prescribed," Major Kudaybergenov claimed. "He is currently under the supervision of medical staff at Institution No. 21. He is scheduled for inpatient treatment at the medical unit of correctional facility No. 31."
The family told Forum 18 that they believe that "several factors" may have contributed to Pastor Shreider's condition. "Firstly, he is of an older age. The prison regime is not conducive for his body movement or exercise and his blood circulation is bad. Secondly, he probably has stress every day because of his arrest. And lastly and maybe most importantly, he was beaten by the police officers when he was arrested and given blows to his head."
On 25 September, the prison authorities transferred Pastor Shreider to the medical unit of Prison No. 31. The strict-regime prison – which is headed by Zhumadil Ybyshov - is located some 20 kms (12 miles) north east of Bishkek, close to the border with Kazakhstan. Although Pastor Shreider is serving a general-regime labour camp sentence, the authorities took him to the strict-regime camp because it is the only one with an appropriate medical unit.
Pastor Shreider's family were last able to see him in person in Prison No. 31 on 26 September, when he looked weak. They have since been able to travel to the labour camp, but only to talk with doctors.
On 14 October, the prison authorities began the process of transferring Pastor Shreider back to Prison No. 21 in Bishkek. But the state of his health prevented this, his family told Forum 18. They say the authorities expect to be able to transfer him back there in a week or so.
Officials at Prison No. 21 and Prison No. 31 did not answer the phone between 10 and 14 October.
The address of Prison No. 31 where Pastor Shreider is currently held:
Chuy oblusu
Alamudun raionu
Moldovanovka aiyly
Molodezhnaya kach. 2a/1
No. 31 Tuzatuu Mekemesi
Shreider's appeal postponed to 21 October
Kymbat Arkharova
Bakyt Torogeldi uulu (RFE/RL)
Pastor Shreider's defence lawyer Akmat Alagushev lodged an appeal against his conviction and jail term to Bishkek City Court on 7 August. The Court assigned the case to Judge Kymbat Arkharova. Hearings began in early September.
Bishkek City Court was scheduled to resume hearing Pastor Shreider's appeal in late September. But because he was transferred to the medical unit, the Court postponed the appeal to 7 October, his family told Forum 18. "But on that day, according to the Court officials, the internet connection with the medical unit did not work. Since [Shreider] cannot participate in the hearing in person the Court decided to reschedule the hearing to 14 October."
On 14 October, when officials were still preparing to transfer Shreider to Prison No. 21, Bishkek City Court claimed that the internet connection to Prison No. 31 "could not be established", Pastor Shreider's family told Forum 18. The appeal hearing was once again rescheduled to 21 October.
Bishkek City Court and Judge Arkharova did not answer the phone on 14 October.
UN Special Rapporteurs' concern over Adventists' torture, arrests, prosecution
Nazila Ghanea, UN office, Dushanbe, 20 April 2023
Radioi Ozodi (RFE/RL)
The Special Rapporteurs also noted the 19 March 2025 court ruling banning the True and Free Reform Adventist Church as "extremist".
"While we do not wish to prejudge the accuracy of these allegations, we wish to express our serious concerns regarding the arrest, detention and prosecution of Mr. Pavel Schreider, along with the alleged use of torture and other ill-treatment against Messrs. Pavel Schreider, Igor Tsoi, Sergei Sharvan, and Yuri Pauls," the Special Rapporteurs wrote. They pointed out that "If the above allegations would prove to be accurate, they would be in contravention" of various articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
"Serious allegations of torture and ill-treatment have been made with regard to Mr. Schreider and the other male members of the congregation during their detention," the Special Rapporteurs told the regime. "It is reported that the male and female members of the group witnessed SNCS officers striking the heads and bodies of the seven male members of the group, including Mr. Schreider, Mr. Pauls, Mr. Igor Tsoi, Mr. Peter Petkau, all of whom reported ill-treatment in detention. It is reported that Mr. Schreider and Mr. Tsoi were additionally subjected to strangulation with cellophane bags and the use of tasers."
The Special Rapporteurs note that requests by Pastor Shreider's lawyer for an investigation into the secret police's use of torture against him were sent from one agency to another with no result. "This means that the pre-investigative check, which by law should be conducted on such allegations, and the criminal investigation itself, was not conducted," the Special Rapporteurs complain.
The Special Rapporteurs asked the regime for further information or comments on their actions against the True and Free Adventists and about Pastor Shreider's current state of health. They also asked how Pastor Shreider's prosecution and the court-imposed ban on the Church are "compatible with the international human rights obligations", including under the ICCPR. They also asked what measures had been taken to "investigate the credible accusations" of torture against the four Church members.
Regime's brief response to UN Special Rapporteurs
The regime responded with a brief reply in Russian on 20 September, according to the UN Special Procedures communication website. (END)More reports on freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Kyrgyzstan
For more background, see Forum 18's Kyrgyzstan religious freedom survey
Forum 18's compilation of Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) freedom of religion or belief commitments
Follow us on Bluesky @Forum18
Follow us on Facebook @Forum18NewsService
Follow us on Telegram @Forum18NewsService
Follow us on WhatsApp Forum 18
Follow us on X/Twitter @Forum_18
All Forum 18 material may be referred to, quoted from, or republished in full, if Forum 18 is credited as the source.
All photographs that are not Forum 18's copyright are attributed to the copyright owner. If you reuse any photographs from Forum 18's website, you must seek permission for any reuse from the copyright owner or abide by the copyright terms the copyright owner has chosen.
© Forum 18 News Service. All rights reserved. ISSN 1504-2855.
Latest Analyses
Latest News
10 October 2025
KYRGYZSTAN: Secret police raid, police fine Baptists for "illegal" worship meeting
Ten months after NSC secret police officers raided members of the True and Free Reform Adventist Church (which a court later banned), on 14 September NSC officers raided the harvest festival worship meeting of Bishkek's Council of Churches Baptist congregation. They likewise choose to meet without state registration. Officers seized religious literature for "expert analysis". Police summarily fined the pastor and deacon two weeks' average wages each. Five United Nations Special Rapporteurs wrote to the regime in July reiterating concerns about "the legal framework governing freedom of religion or belief".
14 August 2025
KYRGYZSTAN: Supreme Court permanently bans Reform Adventists as "extremist"
On 4 August, three Supreme Court judges rejected the True and Free Reform Adventist Church's appeal against their banning as "extremist". The Judges "were so swift to go through the case materials without giving proper attention to arguments" from lawyer Akmat Alagushev, Church members complain. The decision cannot be appealed. Church members intend to complain to the United Nations Human Rights Committee. Religious studies scholar Indira Aslanova says the ban "raises serious concerns". "Such precedents can lead to the criminalisation of peaceful forms of religious practice."
14 July 2025
KYRGYZSTAN: Reform Adventist Pastor's 3-year jail term plus deportation
In November 2024 the NSC secret police arrested and tortured True and Free Reform Adventist Pastor Pavel Shreider, placing him in pre-trial detention. In March 2025 a court banned his Church as "extremist". On 10 July a Bishkek court jailed the 65-year-old for 3 years in a general regime labour camp on charges of "incitement of racial, ethnic, national, religious, or regional enmity", charges he denied. Judge Ubaydulla Satimkulov ordered his post-prison deportation. Officials brought Pastor Shreider to court in handcuffs.