Detention:On October 1, 2020, Igor Schmidt was detained by Russian security forces in occupied Sevastopol following searches in the homes of at least nine local residents. The next day, the so-called Lenin District 'court' of Sevastopol imposed a preventive measure of detention. Schmidt was held in pre-trial detention centre No. 1 in Simferopol for 173 days, after which, on March 23, 2021, he was placed under house arrest.

Sentence: On October 22, 2021, the so-called Gagarin District 'court' of Sevastopol sentenced Igor Schmidt to 6 years in a general regime colony under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code. Additionally, he was banned from engaging in activities related to public speaking and publications in the media and the Internet for 6 years, and his freedom was restricted for 1 year. In January 2022, the so-called Sevastopol City 'court' upheld the sentence. On September 7, 2026, having served the full six-year term, Igor Schmidt was released.

Igor Schmidt was born on June 18, 1972, in the village of Laryak, Tyumen Region, Russia. In 2001, he moved to Sevastopol, where he lived until his detention. According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Schmidt was an entrepreneur and religious figure. The profile of the Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea notes that he graduated from a technical school.

Igor Schmidt is a follower of the religious organization 'Jehovah's Witnesses'. His religious activities became the basis for criminal prosecution after the occupation of Crimea by Russia. In 2017, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation declared the 'Jehovah's Witnesses' organization extremist and banned its activities in Russia. The Russian authorities extended these restrictions to occupied Crimea. Human rights organizations emphasize that criminal prosecution of believers for holding religious gatherings and practicing their faith is unlawful persecution based on religious beliefs.

On September 24, 2020, Russian security agencies initiated a criminal case against Schmidt under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code. He was accused of allegedly organizing the activities of a religious organization banned in Russia. His membership in 'Jehovah's Witnesses' was the basis for the criminal prosecution.

On October 1, 2020, a series of searches took place in the homes of local followers of 'Jehovah's Witnesses' in Sevastopol. Schmidt was detained and taken into custody. According to CrimeanSOS, the occupation authorities accused him of participating in the Sevastopol community of 'Jehovah's Witnesses'. The next day, he was sent to pre-trial detention centre No. 1 in Simferopol, where he spent a total of 173 days.

On March 23, 2021, Schmidt was placed under house arrest. In April of the same year, the criminal case began to be considered on its merits. According to Suspilne Crimea, the prosecution requested a 7-year general regime colony sentence. On October 22, 2021, the occupation court sentenced him to 6 years of imprisonment.

At the end of January 2022, Igor Schmidt was transferred to Krasnodar, and on February 21, 2022, he was moved to correctional colony No. 10 in Rostov-on-Don. There, he continued serving his sentence. As of May 2025, the Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea indicated this institution as his place of detention.

During his imprisonment, Schmidt received letters of support from fellow believers from various countries. He later recounted that being in prison was a serious challenge for him, as he had to leave his usual life and adapt to new conditions.
On September 7, 2026, having served the full six-year term, Igor Schmidt was released.

Information used from open sources:Crimean Tatar Resource Center, CrimeanSOS, ZMINA, Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Ukrinform, Suspilne Crimea, Association of Relatives of Kremlin Political Prisoners

Photo:ZMINA.

Date updated: 14.09.2026.