Listeners:
Top listeners:
-
play_arrow
Christian Activist Dies In Russian Custody, Raising Fresh Concerns
by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – A prominent Christian preacher and activist known for his anti-war views has died in Russian custody, Worthy News learned Monday.
The 43-year-old Khristolyub Bozhiy, known online as “Vegan Christ-Lover of God,” died after being transferred to a pre-trial detention center, according to advocacy group International Christian Concern (ICC), which closely followed the case.
Bozhiy had reported being placed in solitary confinement shortly after his transfer earlier this month. “I was given five days in solitary as soon as I arrived… then another 15, for nothing at all,” he said in remarks cited by supporters.
He had faced prosecution by Russian authorities since late 2023 over online posts linked to his outspoken views on religion—including criticism of Islam—and the war in Ukraine.
DETENTION AND SENTENCING
A court in Russia’s Voronezh region reportedly sentenced Bozhiy in February 2025 to three years in a colony-settlement after he was accused of offending religious feelings and promoting banned content.
Authorities also ordered psychiatric treatment, a move critics say is sometimes used in politically sensitive cases.
Earlier this month, Bozhiy was transferred to a detention facility and again placed in isolation, raising concerns among those close to him about his treatment.
“He had tense relations with the administration,” a source familiar with the situation said, adding there were also reported conflicts with fellow inmates.
DEATH UNDER DISPUTE
Bozhiy’s father was informed on April 17 that his son had died, but was only told the circumstances days later, when he was summoned to collect the body, Christian sources said.
Officials claimed the activist was found hanging in his cell, suggesting suicide. However, relatives have strongly disputed that account.
Family members said Bozhiy had previously gone on a hunger strike under pressure and feared for his life, at one point saying authorities intended to “leave him to rot” in custody.
A criminal case has been opened under Article 293 of Russia’s criminal code, which deals with negligence.
PATTERN OF ACTIVIST DEATHS
Bozhiy is not the only activist to have died in Russian custody. He was reportedly the third pacifist prisoner to die within a month, a pattern that has alarmed rights advocates.
Investigative outlet SOTAvision reported that surveillance cameras near his cell may not have been functioning at the time of his death, though this has not been independently confirmed.
In his writings and videos, including on the YouTube platform, Bozhiy described himself as a Christian activist, pacifist, and preacher advocating peace rather than war.
In one of his final public protests, he held a sign reading: “Jesus commanded to love enemies, not to kill, for God is love. Murderers do not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
Rights advocates say his death underscores growing risks faced by outspoken activists in Russia, particularly those critical of the war in Ukraine or government policies.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced Friday that her office has uncovered newly declassified evidence showing the U.S. government funded more than 120 biological laboratories in more than 30 countries, including facilities in Ukraine that officials previously warned could be vulnerable amid Russia’s ongoing war.
Iran has denied instigating massive protests in Albania, a member of the NATO military alliance, against a multi-billion-dollar luxury resort linked to the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald J. Trump.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency has fired 70 employees in Gaza with immediate effect, saying the move was necessary “to mitigate safety and security risks” for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA personnel, and agency facilities amid long-running Israeli allegations that Hamas has deeply infiltrated the agency.
The Israel Defense Forces said Saturday it struck more than 70 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon over the past day, as Israel continues its campaign to dismantle the Iranian-backed terror group’s infrastructure along the northern border.
Iran will begin funeral ceremonies for late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on July 4, a date widely viewed as a deliberate message to the United States after his death in the opening strikes of Operation Epic Fury.
The United States and Iran are reportedly days away from signing an initial agreement that would require Tehran to surrender and destroy enriched nuclear material, dismantle major components of its nuclear program, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to a senior White House official cited by Israel Hayom and confirmed in separate Reuters reporting.
The Department of Defense has released a third batch of declassified UFO-related files, offering new details on unresolved government investigations into Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, including a striking 2024 account from Colorado in which a former U.S. Army intelligence officer described a shimmering, “potato-shaped” object that appeared to cloak itself before vanishing.
WHO WE ARE
The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.
CONTACT
- +1 908 280-4246
- Essex County, USA
- info@tnjrfm.com