Saransk resident Aleksandr Shevchuk, one of Jehovah's Witnesses convicted for his faith, was released from the colony

On November 3, 2023, Aleksandr Shevchuk was released from Penal Colony No. 12 in the Republic of Mordovia. For "spreading faith" in Jehovah God, he spent almost 2 years behind bars - 9 months in a pre-trial detention center and 8.5 months in a colony.

Alexander Shevchuk is a descendant of Jehovah's Witnesses exiled to Siberia, who were later rehabilitated as victims of Stalinist repressions. He was detained after searches in February 2019. At the time of the trial, he was released on his own recognizance. Aleksandr served the sentence imposed by the court in correctional colony No. 12 in the Republic of Mordovia.

While serving his sentence, Oleksandr Shevchuk worked in the sewing industry. The administration and the prisoners treated him with respect.

According to Aleksandr himself, he had the opportunity to defend his Bible-based beliefs more than once behind bars. "At first, my cellmates took my position with hostility. But over time, we understood, and we communicated well," Shevchuk said about one of the periods of being under arrest. "Such conversations helped to keep the joy alive. Of course, they are not the only ones. Letters from friends brought special joy. There was something in every letter that was just for me."

According to the lawyer, one of the employees once even said that "this place is not for him."

The rest of the defendants in the case - Georgy and Elena Nikulin, Vladimir Atryakhin, Alexander Korolev and Denis Antonov - are still serving sentences for believing in God in penal colonies.