Aleksandr Korolev and Denis Antonov Released From Penal Colony in Mordovia After Fully Serving Their Sentences for Their Faith

On June 14, 2024, two Jehovah's Witnesses, Aleksandr Korolev, 45, and Denis Antonov, 47, were released from penal colony No.12 in Mordovia. They were happily met by relatives and friends.

The court sentenced the men to 2.5 years imprisonment in August 2022. They spent about 5 months in a pretrial detention center and 1 year and 5 months in a penal colony. Taking into account their pretrial detention, they fully served their sentence for their faith. In the penal colony, Korolev was sent to a punishment cell three times.

A criminal case against Korolev and Antonov was initiated in March 2019. Due to the criminal prosecution and his imprisonment, Denis Antonov lost his business. He was also providing for the elderly mother of Olga, his wife. All this time, Denis and his family were supported by fellow believers. "My wife and I have everything we need and even more," Denis Antonov said during the trial.

In this criminal case, three more believers remain in custody: Georgiy Nikulin and his wife Yelena, as well as Vladimir Atryakhin. Yelena has to serve another 2 years and 2 months of her sentence, Georgiy — 1 year and 7 months, and Vladimir — 3 years and 9 months.

In total, 9 people have already been subjected to religious persecution in Mordovia.