Arrest: In August 2021, following a series of searches in the homes of believers in Armyansk, Russian security forces detained Oleksandr Dubovenko. The Russian-controlled Armyansk City Court imposed house arrest as a preventive measure. Russian authorities charged him under part 1 of article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code ('Organization of the activities of an extremist organization'), although the actual basis for the prosecution was his peaceful practice of religion.

Sentence: On December 1, 2022, the Russian-controlled Armyansk City Court found Oleksandr Dubovenko guilty and sentenced him to 6 years in a general regime colony. Later, the appellate court upheld the sentence with no significant changes. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations emphasize that the case is politically and religiously motivated and is an example of the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea.

Oleksandr Volodymyrovych Dubovenko was born on March 31, 1973. He was born in the city of Ochakiv, Mykolaiv region, and at the age of one, he moved with his family to Crimea.

Married, with a daughter. Before his arrest, Oleksandr Dubovenko worked as a locksmith-welder, electrician, and was involved in finishing works. According to his family and human rights defenders, he was not involved in political activities and was known solely as a peaceful believer. The charges were based on covert audio recordings of religious services, testimonies, and participation in religious gatherings, which Russian authorities, following the ban on the Jehovah's Witnesses organization in 2017, interpret as 'extremist activity.'

During the trial, the defense emphasized that Oleksandr did not commit or incite any violent actions. Human rights defenders stress that the sentence contradicts international standards of freedom of conscience and religion, and the criminal prosecution resulted solely from his religious beliefs.

During the trial, the Russian court used as evidence the results of covert audio surveillance of religious gatherings, materials from operational-search activities, and testimonies of individuals involved in the investigation. The defense repeatedly emphasized that none of the evidence confirmed calls for violence or any extremist activity. Human rights defenders highlight that the sole basis for the prosecution was the peaceful practice of the Jehovah's Witnesses religion.

The case of Oleksandr Dubovenko is documented by the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, the Human Rights Center ZMINA, the Crimean Human Rights Group, the Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the international human rights organization Forum 18, and the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses (jw.org), which chronicles the persecution of its believers in Russia and the occupied territories of Ukraine. All these organizations emphasize that the criminal prosecution of Oleksandr Dubovenko is a violation of the right to freedom of conscience and religion.

As of July 9, 2026, Oleksandr Dubovenko continues to serve his sentence unlawfully in a facility of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations continue to demand his release and the cessation of persecution of individuals for their religious beliefs in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea.

Information used from open sources: Crimean Tatar Resource Center (CTRC), Human Rights Center ZMINA, Crimean Human Rights Group, Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Forum 18, Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Photo: Crimean Tatar Resource Center.

Date updated: 09.07.2026