Name: Maslov Dmitriy Anatoliyevich
Date of Birth: September 7, 1976
Current status: who has served the main sentence
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)
Time spent in prison: 2 day in a temporary detention facility
Sentence: penalty in the form of a fine of 450,000 rubles

Biography

Dmitry Maslov is the owner of one of the most unusual and, perhaps, the most peaceful professions: he is a beekeeper by profession. He never even thought of committing any illegal acts. Peaceful views prompted him to do alternative civilian service instead of military service. At the same time, law enforcement officers regarded the hike organized by Dmitry with friends in the mountains as a continuation of extremist activity.

Dmitry was born in 1976 in the Siberian city of Minusinsk, located on the banks of the Yenisei. He has a younger sister and brother, and his mother raised children alone. As a child, he played the accordion and practiced martial arts. He graduated from a vocational school with a degree in beekeeping. He learned to work on a tractor. Now he is a plumber. In his spare time, he likes to ride a bicycle and go scuba diving.

Already at a young age, Dmitry was worried about serious life issues. He found convincing answers to them while studying the Bible. He was convinced of the reliability of the Bible's teachings by the clarity, simplicity of presentation, historical accuracy of the Holy Scriptures, and fulfilled prophecies. After receiving a summons from the military registration and enlistment office, Dmitry asked for alternative civilian service.

In 1997, he married Julia. The couple love to spend time together, walk in the mountains, pick mushrooms, berries and herbs, bake pies, make homemade wine and receive guests.

"Criminal prosecution creates the feeling of a sword hanging over you and keeps you in constant tension. There is no sense of security either at home or outside it," says the believer. Against the background of stress, Julia's health deteriorated. The family began to have financial difficulties, as the accounts were arrested and bank cards were blocked.

Dmitriy's mother, who does not share his religious beliefs, considers her son's criminal prosecution unjustified and undeserved. She is convinced that her son professes "the most peaceful religion."

Case History

On April 19, 2019, the Investigative Committee for the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Republic of Khakassia opened a criminal case against Dmitry Maslov from Minusinsk, accusing him of organizing extremist activities. The basis for the accusation was that the believer organized a hike in the mountains for his friends. Investigator Viktor Kolenichenko authorized and conducted searches of Dmitry himself and other Jehovah’s Witnesses from Minusinka. In December 2019, the criminal case was submitted to the Minusinsk City Court, it was considered by Judge Viktor Fomichev. During the trial, none of the interrogated witnesses confirmed Maslov’s guilt, however, in June 2021, the court imposed a fine of 450,000 rubles on the believer. In October of the same year, the appeal upheld the verdict, and in June 2022 it was finally approved by the Court of Cassation.