Aleksandr Parkov and his wife Galina on the day of his release, August 9, 2024

Aleksandr Parkov and his wife Galina on the day of his release, August 9, 2024

Aleksandr Parkov and his wife Galina on the day of his release, August 9, 2024

Served Sentences

In Rostov-on-Don, Aleksandr Parkov Was Released After 5 Years Imprisonment for His Faith

Rostov Region

On August 9, 2024, Aleksandr Parkov, 56, one of Jehovah's Witnesses, was released from Penal Colony No.10 for the Rostov Region. The believer spent a total of 5 years and 2 months in a detention center and the penal colony for talking about the Bible.

Parkov's wife, Galina, also faced prosecution for her faith. She was given a 2-year and 3-month suspended sentence. While her husband was imprisoned, Galina lost her job due to criminal prosecution. She is very grateful to her family and friends for their emotional and material support.

Aleksandr Parkov met his friends when leaving the penal colony, August 9, 2024
Aleksandr Parkov met his friends when leaving the penal colony, August 9, 2024

Galina said that her husband lives by the principle "if you want it to be good, create that 'good' around you." Administration employees and his cellmates treated Parkov with respect. He worked in a blacksmith's shop and received awards. According to Galina, good habits, hard work and letters of support helped Aleksandr to survive these difficult times.

Two more defendants in the Parkov case are Arsen and Vilen Avanesov. Vilen has already been released after almost 5 years in the penal colony, Arsen remains in the penal colony.

The Case of Avanesov and Others in Rostov-on-Don

Case History
Searches, arrests, humiliation and intimidation — in May 2019, Aleksandr Parkov, Vilen and Arsen Avanesov from Rostov were detained by the Investigative Committee for allegedly continuing the activity of the banned organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses. They were placed in a pretrial detention center, where they spent 925 days. The charges against the believers were based on falsifications and the testimony of a provocateur recruited by the FSB. In July 2021, the court sentenced Vilen to 6 years in a penal colony, and Aleksandr and Arsen to 6.5 years. The court of appeal and the court of cassation upheld this decision. Arsen was also charged under another article — financing the activity of an extremist organization, and his sentence was increased to 7 years. In February 2024, Vilen Avanesov was released, having served his term in full. In August 2024, Aleksandr Parkov was also released from the penal colony.
Timeline

Persons in case

Avanesov
Arsen
Avanesov
Vilen
Parkov
Aleksandr

Criminal case

Region:
Rostov Region
Locality:
Rostov-on-Don
Suspected of:
According to the investigation they continued their activities and led the Local Religious Organization (LRO) of Jehovah's Witnesses, received religious literature, attracted other people to worship, and used living quarters at their places of residence for meetings
Court case number:
11902007712000035
Initiated:
May 22, 2019
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
First Investigation Department (with deployment in Rostov-on-Don) of the Main Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1), 282.3 (1)
Court case number:
1-44/2021 (1-415/2020)
Court:
Ленинский районный суд г. Ростов-на-Дону
Judge:
Владимир Худавердян
Case History