Three Jehovah's Witnesses from Oryol Were Released

On April 9, 2025, Artur Putintsev, Vladimir Melnik and Vladimir Piskarev were released from colonies in the Oryol, Kirov and Kaluga regions, respectively. They served their sentences in full, having spent more than 3 years in pre-trial detention centers and more than a year in colonies. The believers were met by their relatives, as well as many friends.

Three men ended up behind bars in December 2020, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. For this reason, as well as due to the fact that the wives were witnesses in the case, there were problems with visits. Irina Melnik recalls: "At first, they didn't give me a visit. They were gone for about 3 months. Then 2 times a month we saw each other on short dates... But it was at a distance of 1 meter through the glass and bars, by telephone. We were able to see each other and hug only in July 2024 on a long date." Vladimir Melnik and Artur Putintsev also experienced health problems during their imprisonment. In the pre-trial detention center, Vladimir Piskaryov's blood pressure problems worsened, he suffered a stroke and repeated hypertensive crises, as well as an acute attack of gastrointestinal disease, which caused him to be hospitalized.

Thanks to their exemplary behavior in the penal colony, the men earned a good reputation with the administration, as well as other prisoners. Out of respect for the believers, some of them stopped using abusive language and tried not to smoke in their presence. Artur Putintsev was nicknamed "the hand of God" in the penal colony for his generosity toward other prisoners.

Friends and relatives supported the believers by sending them letters, and also provided material and practical assistance to their families. For example, Artur Putintsev's friends repaired the roof and fence of his house. Also, fellow believers drove the wives of the prisoners to courts and visits and helped making parcels.

The Oryol Region is the region where the prosecution of Jehovah's Witnesses began shortly after the ban on their legal entities in 2017. A total of 8 believers from this area became defendants in criminal cases for their faith. Four of them have already been released from the penal colony, and two continue to serve their sentences of forced labor.