Pastor in Kyrgyzstan Suffers Brain Injuries Amid Allegations of Torture
(Photo: Vera Shreider-Forum 18)
In a troubling development, a pastor in Kyrgyzstan is reported to have sustained traumatic brain injuries while imprisoned, as noted by U.N. special rapporteurs. The pastor’s family has since been informed of his cognitive decline, attributed to his treatment while incarcerated, as reported by Forum 18, a platform that focuses on religious freedom and human rights violations.
According to Forum 18, Major Azat Kudaybergenov, the prison chief, communicated to the relatives of the Rev. Pavel Shreider, 65, the diagnosis of “traumatic brain injury” and “cognitive impairment” following numerous medical evaluations. Shreider, a pastor of the True and Free Reform Adventist Church, is serving a three-year sentence based on charges of “inciting enmity,” which his supporters claim are fabricated.
After being held in Prison No. 21, Pastor Shreider was moved to Prison No. 31, a medical unit in Bishkek, after his daughter, Vera Shreider, requested medical intervention due to his deteriorating 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,” the family explained. Despite their demands for urgent medical assistance during a Sept. 9 appeal hearing, the transfer was delayed by over two weeks.
The backdrop to these events includes a raid by the National Security Committee (NSC) secret police in November 2024, targeting Shreider’s home and those of 10 church members. The subsequent interrogations reportedly involved torture, although police officers have denied these claims. Shreider recounted in a complaint that he was physically assaulted by officers to coerce a confession, stating, “Five officers gave me blows on my head, chest and gave me kicks in my spine from behind.”
Other church members, such as Igor Tsoi, also reported similar abuse, including being threatened with a stun gun to provide false testimony against Shreider, though he resisted complying with their demands.
A group of U.N. Special Rapporteurs, including Nazila Ghanea, formally addressed the Kyrgyz regime on July 23 regarding the arrests, alleged torture, and prosecution of Shreider and other church members. They highlighted “serious allegations of torture and ill-treatment” during detention, including reports of physical assaults and the use of tasers and strangulation.
The Special Rapporteurs questioned the regime’s actions against the True and Free Reform Adventists and requested clarification on the compatibility of these actions with international human rights obligations. The regime’s brief response on Sept. 20, as documented by the U.N. Special Procedures communication website, offered little detail.
Despite calls for accountability, no prosecutions have been initiated against those accused of torturing Shreider and his church members. The National Center for the Prevention of Torture dismissed the allegations, claiming that the torture “cannot be corroborated.”
Shreider’s transfer to a medical facility on Sept. 25 has postponed his appeal hearings at Bishkek City Court regarding his sentence. His family attributes his poor health to several factors, including the initial beating during his arrest and the conditions within the prison.
Church Faces Ban Amidst Legal and Religious Tensions
On July 10, the Birinchi May (Pervomaisky) District Court in Bishkek convicted Pastor Shreider of “incitement of racial, ethnic, national, religious, or regional enmity,” sentencing him to a three-year term in a labor camp, followed by deportation to Russia at his own expense. His attorney, Akmat Alagushev, appealed the conviction on Aug. 7.
The True and Free Reform Seventh-day Adventist Church has opted not to pursue state registration, a decision that makes their religious activities illegal under Kyrgyz law. Subsequently, the Alamudin District Court banned the church on March 19, labeling it “extremist.” The Supreme Court upheld this ban on Aug. 4, concluding the appeal rapidly.
As a result of the ban, the church cannot conduct worship services, which were previously held in the village of Lenin, near Bishkek. This situation unfolds as Kyrgyzstan remains a signatory to the U.N. Convention against Torture, which mandates the prosecution of those suspected of torture.
Further complicating the regime’s accountability measures, the Zhogorku Kenesh (Parliament) decided in June to dissolve the National Center for the Prevention of Torture, transferring its responsibilities to the regime-appointed Human Rights Ombudsperson.
© Christian Daily International
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
