Jehovah's Witness Vladimir Skachidub Released After Almost Four Years in Colony

On September 5, 2025, 63-year-old Vladimir Skachidub left the colony where he served time for the peaceful confession of his faith. The believer's wife, together with her friends, met him at the railway station upon arrival in Tikhoretsk, which is near his native village of Pavlovskaya.

Vladimir has been behind bars since October 2021. He served his sentence in a colony in the village of Stenkino, Ryazan Region, which is 1200 kilometers from his house. Skachidub applied for parole, but the court refused him, despite incentives for conscientious work.

Even before the persecution, Vladimir's health was poor — he has a group III disability for a neurological disease; He suffered a heart attack, after which he had to undergo stenting. The conclusion had a negative impact: due to epileptic seizures, Skachidub fell from the top bed several times, and he also developed an inflammation of the skin and ear, which needed medical treatment. The believer did not have any serious problems with receiving medical care.

Vladimir worked in a sewing workshop - this work brought him joy. The source of support, according to him, were letters from caring people and prayers from friends. In addition, even in prison, Vladimir found an opportunity not to give up his hobby - chess: he played with a man from the UK, sending and receiving moves by correspondence.

The administration and other prisoners treated the believer with respect; many addressed him by his first name and patronymic. One of the convicts, who at first felt hostility towards Skachidub, changed his attitude when he saw the kindness of the believer and noted: "You, Vladimir, are a true Christian."

Four more believers from the Krasnodar Territory continue to serve real terms for their faith.