Nikita Zhuravel, a man convicted of burning a Quran and treason, has seemingly vanished during a prison transfer. Since December 24, 2025, his whereabouts remain unknown, according to his lawyer, Andrei Sabinin, who appealed to the Russian Presidential Council for Human Rights, Eva Mekacheva. Zhuravel was transferred from Moscow towards the end of December, and after receiving a letter from Ulyanovsk, all communication ceased.
Sabinin expressed deep concern for Zhuravel’s safety and well-being, citing a lack of evidence confirming his continued existence. The lawyer also highlighted a concerning pattern: denied long visits with his parents while held in the Volgograd pre-trial detention centre. Mekacheva pointed out the persistent issue of lacking information regarding prisoners during transfers, emphasizing that correctional facility administrations should notify relatives of arrival within ten days.
Russian law dictates that notification must occur unless the prisoner consents and designates a recipient, often circumvented under pressure. Born in Crimea, Zhuravel’s case involved a video of a Quran burning incident and subsequent charges, including accusations of “state treason” and cooperating with the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU). He was initially sentenced to three and a half years for hooliganism and insulting religious feelings, later increasing to 14 years after a Supreme Court ruling.
Adam Kadyrov, the son of Chechen Head Ramzan kadyrov, was involved in the incident, beating Zhuravel within the Grozny Detention Centre, claiming he was defending Islam. The situation has drawn attention due to the circumstances surrounding the case and the actions of kadyrov. Human rights organizations recognize Zhuravel as a political prisoner.
Topics: #kadyrov #man #beaten
Nikita Zhuravel, who was imprisoned for desecrating a Quran and committing treason, has seemingly disappeared during a prison transfer.