Another One of Jehovah's Witnesses from Crimea Convicted for His Faith Is Released

On September 7, 2026, Igor Shmidt, 54, from Sevastopol, was released, having fully served his 6-year sentence. He was sent to the penal colony because of meetings for worship where believers discussed the Bible, sang songs and prayed.

The verdict entered into force in January 2022. Igor served the term imposed by the court in correctional institutions in the Rostov Region. "Imprisonment itself is already a major difficulty," recalls Igor. "You are deprived of familiar comforts, torn from your usual environment. All plans are disrupted; you have to adapt."

Throughout his years in custody, both in pretrial detention and the penal colony, friends and fellow believers continously supported Igor. "The loving brotherhood did not abandon me for a single day," he said. "I remember the head of the operations department in the pretrial detention center came to me with a large package of letters and said, 'I want to personally meet this "celebrity" who receives mail from all over the world.'"

More than 38 Jehovah's Witnesses in Crimea have already faced criminal prosecution under articles for extremism. Of these, 15 have been sentenced to 6 years or more in a penal colony.