Jehovah’s Witness in the Moscow Region Sentenced to Four Years in a Penal Colony. Сourt Finds Believer Guilty of “Extremism”

On February 12, 2026, in Dmitrov, Andrey Lukin, 42, was sentenced to a real prison term for his faith, even though the case mentioned no victims, no witnesses, and no specified time or place of the alleged "crime"—something the defense repeatedly emphasized.

Lukin was taken into custody in April 2025. For the first time in their 15 years of marriage, he was separated from his wife, Yelena, for an extended period. The couple stayed in touch mostly through letters, and occasionally they were able to speak during court hearings. Over time, they were granted phone calls and short visits. Andrey supported his wife emotionally in every way he could—with the help of friends, he even arranged a small celebration of their wedding anniversary right in the courtroom.

From the detention center, Andrey wrote to his wife: "If a tree bends, the wind cannot break it. So you have to be able to adapt to changing circumstances in life." Yelena acted accordingly. Wanting to be closer to her husband, she decided to move. The everyday responsibilities Andrey used to handle now fell entirely on her shoulders. She is grateful to friends for their help during that time: they attended hearings, wrote letters, invited her over, offered financial support, and helped with the move and car maintenance.

While in detention, Andrey's chronic health conditions worsened, and he was unable to undergo the necessary medical examinations. He was troubled by the fact that all the care for his elderly mother and mother‑in‑law now rested on his wife alone. He asked the court to replace his pretrial detention with a non-custodial measure so he could look after his family and receive medical treatment, but the request was denied.

The first search of the Lukin family home took place in 2023—marking the beginning of Andrey's persecution. A year and a half later, the security forces came again: he was detained and placed in a detention center. He stressed that he had never called on anyone to take unlawful actions. During the hearings, witnesses described Andrey as kind, compassionate, always ready to help, and a devoted family man.

Judge Olga Pershina of the Dmitrov City Court of the Moscow Region found the believer guilty of financing and participating in extremist activities.

The proceedings against Andrey Lukin became a continuation of the criminal prosecution based on the case files of Aleksandr Serebryakov. In August 2024, a separate case was opened against Viktor Velikov, and in June 2025, the materials concerning Lukin were separated as well. On similar charges, Serebryakov received a five‑year prison sentence, and Velikov was sentenced to five and a half years.