Detention: On October 5, 2022, FSB officers conducted a series of mass searches in the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses in Simferopol and other cities in Crimea. Following this, a separate criminal case was initiated against Mark Stepanovych Liakh under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“organization of the activities of an extremist organization”). According to the investigation, he allegedly organized religious gatherings and Bible discussions. No pre-trial detention was applied, and Mark Liakh remains under investigation without being deprived of liberty.

Sentence: As of July 26, 2026, no guilty verdict has been issued against Mark Liakh. The criminal case is at the pre-trial investigation stage.

Mark Stepanovych Liakh was born on August 3, 1997 (some open sources mistakenly state March 8, 1997). He resides in Simferopol and is a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses religious community. There is no reliable information available in open sources regarding his education, profession, or marital status.

In October 2022, a large-scale wave of searches took place in the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses in Crimea. Following this, Russian law enforcement authorities initiated criminal cases against several believers. In October 2023, the materials concerning Mark Liakh were separated into a distinct case. The investigation claims he allegedly engaged in organizational activities of the religious community, conducted meetings, and discussed biblical texts. Human rights defenders emphasize that this concerns solely the peaceful practice of religion, which does not exhibit signs of extremism.

The case of Mark Liakh is part of a large-scale campaign of persecution against Jehovah's Witnesses in the temporarily occupied Crimea following the Russian Supreme Court's decision to ban the legal entities of this religious organization in 2017. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations view such criminal proceedings as violations of the right to freedom of conscience and religion.
As of July 26, 2026, Mark Liakh is not in places of deprivation of liberty, but he remains a subject of a criminal case, and the persecution against him continues.

Information used from open sources: Suspilne Crimea, the Representative Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Date of update: 07/26/2026.