“We Faced All These Events with Smile on Our Faces” — Dmitriy Zagulin Released from Blagoveshchensk Penal Colony

On March 27, 2026, Jehovah's Witness Dmitriy Zagulin was released from custody. He and three fellow believers had been convicted for taking part in worship services — actions that investigators equated with "organizing the activities of an extremist organization." In total, Dmitriy spent 1,191 days behind bars.

Dmitriy had worked for many years at Russian Railways, where management valued him and repeatedly commended him for his conscientious service. In May 2018, a "judgement day," as it was called by law enforcement, came for Zagulin and his fellow believers — during that special operation, large‑scale searches of Jehovah's Witnesses were carried out in Birobidzhan. Ten months later, a criminal case was opened against Dmitriy.

The investigation brought additional hardships: he was placed on the Rosfinmonitoring list, his bank accounts were frozen, and in November 2021 he was dismissed from his job. In December 2022, Zagulin was sentenced to three and a half years in a penal colony and taken into custody directly in the courtroom. "We faced all these events with a smile on our faces, understanding that we were not being judged as thieves or murderers, but that we were suffering for God's name," he said, describing that period of his life.

Dmitriy served his sentence in Blagoveshchensk, in Penal Colony No. 8. Although communication with the outside world was limited to visits and occasional letters, his optimistic outlook helped him endure imprisonment. "If you start feeling sorry for yourself, it becomes unbearable," he noted. Instead, he adapted to the new circumstances: "If you're just 'doing time,' you suffer; but if you 'live,' then everything is fine." For example, Dmitriy maintained a strict daily routine: he tried to wake up according to Birobidzhan time (4 a.m. local time), exercised regularly, and spent weekends in the library.

His persecution for faith did not end with his release. By court decision, Dmitriy was placed under administrative supervision. For the next eight years, he will have to report to the police four times a month; he is prohibited from leaving Birobidzhan, from being outside his home between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., and from visiting cafés and restaurants.

Now, Dmitriy says he feels "wonderful" and is happy to reunite with his family and friends. "I'm overwhelmed with emotion," he said. "I have so many plans. For example, I'd like to treat myself — I haven't had ice cream in a long time. I'd like to sit down with friends, meet, talk, encourage one another. There are truly so many plans — you don't even know how to accomplish them all."