Dmitriy and Marina Dolzhikov on the day of his release. October 24, 2025

Dmitriy and Marina Dolzhikov on the day of his release. October 24, 2025

Dmitriy and Marina Dolzhikov on the day of his release. October 24, 2025

Served Sentences

One of Jehovah's Witnesses From Novosibirsk was Released on Parole From Forced Labor

Novosibirsk Region

The Novosibirsk Regional Court supported the motion of Dmitriy Dolzhikov's defense for parole — he was released on the same day, October 24, 2025. The believer is very glad that now he will be able to take care of his elderly mother, his disabled father and his brother, who needs constant help because of his health.

On June 30, 2023, the court of first instance found Dmitriy guilty of extremism for participating in Bible discussions and sentenced him to 3 years in a penal colony and 1 year of restriction of freedom, replacing the imprisonment with forced labor. More than 2 years later, Dmitriy applied for parole. The court refused, but Dmitriy did not give up and appealed this decision.

Dmitriy used to have his own small shoe repair business and he knows this job well. He was glad when the administration of the correctional facility assigned him as a senior shoemaker at one of the manufacturers in Novosibirsk. And later, the believer worked in building maintenance.

Dmitriy received 10 awards "for good conduct, his conscientious attitude to work and active participation in educational activities". The administration described him: "He has established himself as a responsible, willing, reliable employee who successfully manages his duties. He executes all instructions without complaints, and complies with work regulations."

Dmitriy Dolzhikov is one of 10 Jehovah's Witnesses sentenced to forced labor for their faith.

The Case of Dolzhikov in Novosibirsk

Case History
In May 2020, Dmitriy Dolzhikov became one of the defendants in a criminal case for their faith, which was initiated by the Investigative Committee for the Novosibirsk Region. When the believer moved to another region, his case was made into a separate proceeding. His new place of residence was searched in September 2022. Dolzhikov was interrogated and then taken back to Novosibirsk, where he was placed in a pretrial detention center for 2.5 months. From November 2022, the believer was under house arrest. The court began hearing his case in December of the same year. The case included the testimonies of a secret witness and two Orthodox “anti-sect” activists; many of the materials in the case did not relate to Dolzhikov but to other believers. In June 2023, the court sentenced Dmitriy to 3 years in a penal colony and 1 year of restriction of freedom, which was replaced by forced labor. In September 2023, the court of appeal upheld this decision. From November, Dmitriy was in the correctional facility at penal colony No. 9 in Novosibirsk. On October 24, 2025, he was released on parole.
Timeline

Persons in case

Dolzhikov
Dmitriy

Criminal case

Region:
Novosibirsk Region
Locality:
Novosibirsk
Suspected of:
"intentionally, out of extremist motives, took part in the activity of a religious association... by participating in religious meetings and meetings of an extremist organization, conducting conversations... presenting and viewing training videos"
Court case number:
42002500019000013
Initiated:
May 13, 2020
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee for the Novosibirsk Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-51/2023 (1-737/2022)
Court of First Instance:
Leninskiy District Court of Novosibirsk
Judge:
Olga Kovalenko
Case History
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