Arrest: On October 1, 2020, in occupied Sevastopol, Russian security forces conducted searches in the homes of at least nine Jehovah's Witnesses. Among those detained were Volodymyr Sakada, Volodymyr Maladyka, Yevhen Zhukov, and Ihor Schmidt. On the same day, the occupying authorities initiated criminal proceedings against Sakada, Maladyka, and Zhukov.

After the search, Volodymyr Sakada was taken into custody. He spent 543 days in a pre-trial detention centre, followed by 303 days under house arrest. In total, he spent over five years under various forms of restriction before his release.

Sentence: On October 6, 2022, the occupying Nakhimovsky District Court of Sevastopol found Volodymyr Sakada guilty under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code — “organizing the activities of an extremist organization,” referring to the religious activities of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Sakada was sentenced to six years in a general regime colony. Additionally, he was prohibited from engaging in educational activities, public speaking, media publications, and posting materials online for seven years. After his release, he was also subject to one year of movement restrictions.

On October 13, 2023, the illegal “Sevastopol City Court” upheld the sentence, rejecting the defense's appeal.

In December 2024, the Russian cassation court also upheld the sentence.

Volodymyr Sakada was born on October 4, 1970. After military service, he became interested in the Bible and Christian teachings. He later became a follower of the Jehovah's Witnesses and sought to share his religious beliefs with others.

He moved to Sevastopol with his wife. The couple enjoyed spending time together and traveling. Before his arrest, Sakada worked as a builder.

On April 20, 2017, the Supreme Court of Russia declared the “Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia” and related organizations “extremist” and banned their activities. The Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea emphasizes that since then, Russian “anti-extremist” legislation has been systematically used in occupied Crimea to persecute believers for peaceful religious activities.

On October 1, 2020, Russian security forces conducted searches in the homes of believers in Sevastopol.

According to case materials, the charges were based, among other things, on video recordings of four Jehovah's Witnesses services made by undercover FSB agents. During the trial, an FSB officer admitted that there were no signs of extremism or incitement of religious hatred in the men's actions. Despite this, on October 6, 2022, Sakada, Maladyka, and Zhukov were each sentenced to six years in prison.

Volodymyr Sakada served his sentence in Correctional Colony No. 5 in the city of Sukhinichi, Kaluga Region, Russia. During his imprisonment, he faced difficulties in obtaining medical care. According to Sakada, due to the lack of proper conditions and medical staff, he spent several months seeking a doctor's examination while his health deteriorated. After surgery, he was placed in a punishment cell for 15 days two months later.

In August 2026, Volodymyr Sakada fully served his six-year sentence.

Information used from open sources: ZMINA, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, CrimeaSOS, Human Rights Project “Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial”, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia

Photo: ZMINA.

Update date: 09.09.2026.