Artemov Oleg

Name: Artemov Oleg Igorevich
Date of Birth: July 31, 1995
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.3 (1), 282.2 (1)
Time spent in prison: 2 day in a pre-trial detention
Current restrictions: detention center
Sentence: imprisonment for a term of 6 years 6 months in a general regime penal colony
Currently held in: Detention Center No.1 for Chelyabinsk Region

Artemov Oleg Igorevich, born 1995, Detention Center No.1 for Chelyabinsk Region, Ul. Rossiyskaya, 53 A, Chelyabinsk, Chelyabinsk Region, 454006

Letters of support can be sent by regular mail or through the ZT system.

Note: discussing topics related to criminal prosecution is not allowed in letters; languages other than Russian will not pass.

Biography

Before Oleg Artyomov from Chelyabinsk faced criminal prosecution for discussing the Bible with friends over video calls, he had plenty of plans. He wanted to build a strong family. Oleg recalls: "When the case was opened, it became clear to me that it would most likely end with a real prison term... And that means this goal gets pushed back..."

Oleg was born in July 1995 in the village of Kanashevo in the Chelyabinsk Region and has lived in Chelyabinsk for his entire life. He has an older brother. His mother is retired, and his father died of a stroke in December 2025. As a child, Oleg loved playing football with friends, and he also enjoyed inventing, filming, and editing short comedy sketches.

After school, Oleg worked as a mechanic at a bowling center, and five years later he moved into apartment renovation. From time to time, he attended various events in the construction field—seminars, master classes, and festivals in different cities across Russia. In his spare time, Oleg plays volleyball and football and goes ice skating. In summer, he loves relaxing by the lakes of the Urals. He also enjoys organizing big celebrations and parties for friends from different cities, as well as filming humorous videos. "I can't live without humor and puns," the believer says.

From early childhood, Oleg's mother instilled in him a love for the Bible. As he grew older, the young man decided to explore the book in depth on his own. He was struck by its internal consistency, its archaeological and historical accuracy, and its practical wisdom. In 2012, Oleg decided to set out on the Christian path. At the time, he had no idea that this would later lead to criminal prosecution.

When the court hearings began, Oleg met his future wife Yuliya, who came to support him. He remembers: "It was really nerve‑racking to come to her parents and say, 'Hello, I want to make your daughter the wife of a 'criminal defendant .''" Yuliya's parents are not Jehovah's Witnesses, yet they supported the young couple. Oleg and Yuliya got married in November 2025. They are determined to face all difficulties together.

Case History

In late February 2024, Investigative Committee investigator Aleksandr Chepenko opened two criminal cases at once against Oleg Artyomov. The believer was suspected of participating in the activities of an extremist organization and of financing it because he attended worship services and paid for a video‑conferencing application. Artyomov’s phone and bank cards were seized, and he was placed under a travel restriction. A year later, the investigation reclassified the charge from participation in the activities of an extremist organization to organizing such activities. The court began hearing the case in spring 2025. In April 2026, the court sentenced him to six and a half years in a penal colony.
Timeline
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