Jehovah's Witnesses from Tver Given 6 Years for Their Faith — Court Claimed Peaceful Meetings for Worship Were Extremism

On February 13, 2026, Valeriy Popov, judge of the Moskovskiy District Court of Tver, announced the verdict against three Jehovah's Witnesses: Valeriy Tolmazov, Aleksandr Kostyuk, and Maksim Barbazyuk. All three received 6 years in a penal colony and were taken into custody in the courtroom.

The men insist that they only peacefully practiced their faith within the law. "I am being judged for what — not stealing; living with my wife for 49 years in peace and harmony, though she does not share my religious views; helping my 96-year-old mother; not swearing; living peacefully with everyone," Valeriy Tolmazov, a 71-year-old pensioner, addressed the court.

Aleksandr Kostyuk, a 53-year-old father of three, echoed his fellow believer's words: "I was charged with extremism, but in fact they are only prosecuting me because I read the Bible and try to live accordingly."

The criminal prosecution of the Tver residents has been ongoing since June 2023. This was preceded by operational-investigative measures, including covert recordings of meetings for worship, which were later viewed in court. "The recordings themselves show that the charges are groundless," commented Maksim Barbazyuk, a 43-year-old electrician. "At them, we read the Bible, discuss how to become better husbands, wives, neighbors and citizens... we actively discuss what God requires of us — that we treat others with respect and obey the laws of the country we live in."

The prosecution requested 7 years in a penal colony for all three defendants.

To date, eight Jehovah's Witnesses in the Tver Region have been prosecuted for their faith; some of them are already serving sentences in penal colonies.