Detention: On August 25, 2022, FSB officers conducted searches in the homes of Viktor Kudinov and Serhiy Zhihalov in occupied Sevastopol. The men were detained on charges of 'organizing the activities of an extremist organization' due to their affiliation with the Jehovah's Witnesses religious community. Initially, they were placed in a temporary detention facility, and later, house arrest was imposed as a preventive measure.

Sentence: On January 14, 2025, the Russia-controlled Gagarinsky District Court of Sevastopol sentenced Viktor Kudinov to 6 years in a general regime penal colony. Additionally, the court imposed restrictions on engaging in educational activities. On June 12, 2025, the occupation Sevastopol City Court upheld the sentence, dismissing the defense's appeal.

Viktor Ivanovych Kudinov is one of the Kremlin's Crimean prisoners, persecuted by the Russian occupation authorities for his religious beliefs. He was born on January 25, 1969, in Budapest. When he was four, his family returned to Crimea. After his parents' divorce, his grandmother primarily raised Viktor and his older sister. From a young age, he was hardworking, helping the family with household chores and working during school holidays. In his youth, he was interested in sports, tourism, and photography.

After finishing school, Kudinov trained as a car repair locksmith and simultaneously obtained a driver's qualification. Much of his life was connected to the transport sector. For over thirty years, he worked as a bus driver in Sevastopol, respected by his colleagues and repeatedly receiving professional awards and commendations. For his many years of diligent work, he was even awarded the title of 'Best Driver in the City.'

In 1990, Viktor met his future wife, Svitlana, and they married the following year. The couple raised a daughter and a son. Through his family, Viktor gradually became involved in studying the Bible with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. According to his relatives, he was attracted to the principles of peaceful coexistence, moral responsibility, and mutual support. In 2010, he officially became a member of the religious community.

After the occupation of Crimea, the Russian authorities began actively persecuting Jehovah's Witnesses. These repressions intensified following the 2017 decision of the Russian Supreme Court, which declared the organization 'extremist' and banned its activities in Russia and occupied Crimea. Despite continuing to hold peaceful religious gatherings, Russian law enforcement began opening criminal cases against them.

The basis for criminal prosecution was video recordings of religious meetings and services. The investigation claimed that Kudinov and Zhihalov allegedly organized the activities of a banned organization, although it was essentially about holding prayer meetings, Bible readings, and participating in services. Human rights defenders emphasized that no calls for violence or extremist activities were recorded during these events.

After his detention, Viktor Kudinov was under house arrest, and later the preventive measure was eased to certain procedural restrictions. Meanwhile, the criminal prosecution continued for over two years. The defense repeatedly pointed out violations during the religious and psychological-linguistic examinations. Lawyers stated that the experts' conclusions were based on biased approaches to the Jehovah's Witnesses' teachings and exceeded their professional competencies.

The case materials also included testimonies from so-called 'secret witnesses.' Human rights defenders noted that some witnesses had previously participated in similar criminal cases against Crimean Jehovah's Witnesses, effectively acting as professional prosecution witnesses.

Over a hundred people came to the court building to support the convicted. During their final statements, the accused emphasized that they were being persecuted solely for peacefully practicing their faith. They denied any charges of extremism and stressed that their activities were limited to participating in services.

Information used from open sources: Suspilne Crimea, ZMINA, CrimeaSOS, Association of Relatives of Political Prisoners.

Photo: Association of Relatives of Political Prisoners.

Last updated: 15.07.2026.