Detention: Dmytro Barmakin, a native of Crimea, entered Russia with his wife Olena, who came to care for her sick mother. In July 2018, a search was conducted at his mother-in-law's house in Vladivostok, after which Barmakin was arrested on charges of "organizing the activities of an extremist organization" (Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code). He spent 447 days in a pre-trial detention centre, over 14 months. After his release, he was under restrictions for two more years: he could not change his residence or communicate with certain individuals. Shortly after his detention, authorities also initiated a criminal case against his wife Olena.

Sentence: Barmakin's case went through three court instances. In November 2021, the Pervorechensky District Court of Vladivostok acquitted him—the first such acquittal for a Jehovah's Witness on "extremism" charges in Russia. The court stated: "Conducting religious rites in residential or commercial premises does not violate the law but is an exercise of believers' rights to freedom of conscience and religion." However, in April 2022, the regional court overturned the acquittal and sent the case for a new trial. In April 2023, the same court reviewed the case again in a closed session. On April 28, 2023, Barmakin was sentenced to 8 years in a general regime colony and 1 year of restricted freedom after serving the main term. The prosecutor demanded 9 years—the fifth and harshest sentence for a Jehovah's Witness in Russia at that time. After the verdict was announced, Barmakin was taken into custody directly in the courtroom.

Dmytro Barmakin did not plead guilty during either the first or second trial. Despite harsh imprisonment conditions, he remained optimistic. In letters to family and fellow believers, he wrote: "A long prison term has not deprived me of joy." In his usual activities, Barmakin conducted religious meetings with believers, which became the basis for the charges.

Dmytro Barmakin, a native of Crimea, is a follower of Jehovah's Witnesses. His case became notable for several reasons. Firstly, the 2021 acquittal—the first of its kind in Russia for a Jehovah's Witness on "extremism" charges—caused significant resonance in human rights circles. Secondly, the overturning of the acquittal in 2022 and the issuance of a new, one of the harshest sentences, demonstrates increased pressure on believers following the onset of the full-scale war. Thirdly, the parallel prosecution of his wife Olena shows a systemic practice of pressuring entire families.

Information used from open sources: Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Radio Liberty (Crimea.Realities), ZMINA, jw.org.

Photo: ZMINA.

Update date: 03.07.2026.