Name: Chausov Dmitriy Vladimirovich
Date of Birth: February 27, 1988
Current status: who has served the main sentence
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2)
Time spent in prison: 2 day in a temporary detention facility, 388 day in a pre-trial detention, 277 day Under house arrest
Current restrictions: restriction of freedom
Sentence: imprisonment for a term of 1 year 10 months with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to leadership and participation in the work of public and religious organizations and associations, for a term of 2 years, with restriction of liberty for a term of 6 months, with serving a sentence in the form of imprisonment in a general regime penal colony

Biography

In December 2024, the court sentenced Dmitriy Chausov and his wife, Oksana, to 2.5 years in a penal colony because of the peaceful practice of their religion.

Dmitriy was born in 1988 in Kursk. He was raised by his grandmother. In his youth, the boy was engaged in running. After school, he graduated from the railway technical school. In 2012, he served in the army. Then he worked in his specialty as a railway fitter. Before his arrest, he worked as a welder in the housing and communal services sector. In his free time, Dmitriy likes to do viticulture, he has his own small vineyard.

When Dmitriy began to read the Bible, he was impressed by the teaching on the resurrection of the dead, as he longed for his dead grandmother. He wanted to learn more about God and eventually dedicated his life to serving him in 2014, on the same day as his wife.

Dmitriy met Oksana in April 2012. Six months later they got married. Oksana is a master of manicure and pedicure. She was familiar with the Bible from childhood, as her grandparents were believers.

Religious persecution disrupted the usual way of life of a married couple. Once in the pre-trial detention center after the search, Dmitriy lost the opportunity to take care of his wife and support her. Also, because of his arrest, he had to interrupt treatment for a serious illness.

Case History

In August 2023, searches were carried out at the homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kursk. An FSB investigator initiated a criminal case against Nikolay Kupriyanskiy and the Chausovs, Dmitriy and Oksana. All three were detained. They were charged with organizing the activity of an extremist organization and participating in it. Dmitriy was sent to a pretrial detention center, and later, like Nikolay and Oksana, placed under house arrest. The Chausovs were separated due to a ban on communication. In June 2024, the case was brought to court. The verdict was announced 6 months later: Nikolay Kupriyanskiy — 6 years in a penal colony, Dmitry Chausov and his wife Oksana — 2.5 years each. In May 2025, the court of appeal upheld this decision, while reducing the imposed terms: for Kupriyanskiy — to 4.5 years, for the Chausovs — to 1 year and 10 months. Dmitriy Chausov was released in the courtroom, as he had already served his entire term in a pretrial detention center.
Back to top