Oleg Sakun on the day the verdict was announced. March 25, 2025
Oleg Sakun on the day the verdict was announced. March 25, 2025
Court Ordered Pensioner, 72, From Kovrov, to Pay Fine for His Faith in God
Vladimir RegionOn March 25, 2025, Artem Ozhev, judge of the Kovrov City Court, sentenced Oleg Sakun — the pensioner was fined 250,000 rubles for participating in peaceful meetings for worship.
The believer said: "Since February 2021, our family has faced searches and interrogations. My wife Valentina and I were already elderly at that time, and these events had a very strong impact on our health. Due to emotional distress, my wife developed diabetes. At the end of 2021, we fell ill with coronavirus, my wife died of complications: as the doctor said, her health was weakened due to the stress suffered and her body could not cope with the disease. In August 2023, a criminal case was initiated against me."
In May 2024, the case went to court. According to the prosecutor, Oleg Sakun continued the activity of a legal entity liquidated by the court, simply by practicing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. He requested a fine of 350,000 rubles for him. Objecting to the prosecuter's arguments, the believer used an illustration of a sewing factory outer garments, which was a legal entity, but went bankrupt and ceased operations. He asked the court: "Can it be concluded that former factory workers cannot sew clothes for personal needs or the needs of other people?"
In his final statement, Oleg Sakun said: "I am 72, never would I have thought that just because I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I would be put on par with terrorists and extremists."