Name: Pichugin Yuriy Ivanovich
Date of Birth: July 17, 1959
Current status: accused
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2)
Time spent in prison: 1 day in a temporary detention facility, 40 day in a pre-trial detention
Current restrictions: detention center
Currently held in: Detention Center No.1 for Tomsk Region

Pichugin Yuriy Ivanovich, born 1959, Detention Center No.1 for Tomsk Region, Ul. Pushkina, 48, Tomsk, Tomsk Region, 634003

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

In May 2025, Yuriy Pichugin, who had recently suffered a stroke, ended up in a pre-trial detention center. Because of his faith in Jehovah God, he was accused of extremism.

Yuriy was born in July 1959 in Uzbekistan but has lived in Tomsk almost all his life. He has a younger sister. Their mother worked as a paramedic-obstetrician, nurse, and head of a kindergarten until her retirement. His father was an engineer at a state farm, then he was in charge of a fleet of vehicles.

Yuriy has always loved nature and as a child went to a hobby group of young naturalists. After school, he studied at the Tomsk Road Technical School, served in the army, and then graduated from the Civil Engineering Institute. Over the years, the man worked in a road construction organization, was engaged in the decoration of apartments and houses, and was an individual entrepreneur. He is now retired.

In May 2004, Yuriy was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. He recalls that when he first read the Bible, he was particularly interested in prophecy. Their accuracy convinced him of the validity of this book. He also saw the practical value of the Bible—in difficult situations, it helped him to act honestly. Yuriy was also impressed by the goodwill and hospitality of Jehovah's Witnesses.

With his future wife, Tayana, Yuriy studied at the same school. They got married in 1982 and have an adult daughter. His wife is a builder by education, now she is retired. Tatyana loves to work in the garden and grow flowers, and Yuriy loves to spend time in nature and fishing. Together, the couple likes to pick mushrooms and ride bicycles. But they are united not only by this, but they also maintain unity in values. Tatyana was the first in the family to become interested in Bible teachings. Most of all, she was attracted to the qualities of God described in the Bible.

After Yuriy ended up in the pre-trial detention center, all the worries about the house and household fell on Tatyana's shoulders.

Case History

After searches in Tomsk in March 2025, three married couples of Jehovah’s Witnesses were detained. The Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case for organizing the activities of an extremist organization and participating in these activities. The next day, the court sent Vladimir Pushkov, Aisula Tastaibekova, Yevgeniy Abramov and his wife Yana, Yevgeniy Dodolin and his wife Tatyana to a pre-trial detention center. In May, after another series of searches, Anton Novopashin, Yuriy Pichugin, Andrey Plekhanov and Gonhi Jahi, a student from Côte d’Ivoire, ended up in the pre-trial detention center.
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