Name: Chausov Dmitriy Vladimirovich
Date of Birth: February 27, 1988
Current status: defendant
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2)
Time spent in prison: 2 day in a temporary detention facility, 203 day in a pre-trial detention, 228 day Under house arrest
Current restrictions: house arrest

Biography

In August 2023, Dmitriy Chausov, together with his wife Oksana, were criminally prosecuted only because they believe in Jehovah God. After the search, law enforcement officers sent Dmitriy to a pre-trial detention, and his wife was placed under house arrest.

Dmitriy was born in 1988 in Kursk. He was raised by his grandmother. In his youth, Dmitriy loved to run. After school he graduated from a railway technical college. In 2012 he served in the army. Then he worked as a railway fitter. Before his arrest, he worked as a welder in а housing and communal services field. In his free time, Dmitriy likes to practice viticulture and he has his own small vineyard.

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

Dmitriy met Oksana in April 2012. Six months later they got married. Oksana is a manicure and pedicure stylist. She has been familiar with the Bible since childhood, as her grandparents were believers.

Religious prosecution disrupted the couple's daily life. When Dmitriy was put behind bars, he lost the opportunity to take care of his wife and support her. Also, due to his arrest, he had to interrupt the treatment of a serious illness.

Case History

In August 2023, the homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses were searched in Kursk. An FSB investigator opened a criminal case against Nikolay Kupriyanskiy and spouses Dmitriy Chausov and Oksana Chausova. All three were detained. They were accused of organizing the activities of an extremist community and participating in it. Dmitriy was sent to a pre-trial detention center, and later, like Nikolay and Oksana, under house arrest. The Chausovs were separated due to a ban on communication. In June 2024, the case went to court.