Omsk Regional Court Sends Two Jehovah's Witnesses for Long Term to Penal Colony

On August 6, 2026, the Omsk Regional Court toughened the sentence against Leonid Pyzhov, 52, and Sergey Rygaev, 54: instead of 3.5 years of forced labor, both believers received 6 years' imprisonment in a penal colony.

In his final statement at the appeal hearing, Rygaev reminded the court: "For 33 years I prayed, read the Bible, and have never harmed neither people nor the state; there are no victims in the case." Pyzhov pointed out the contradiction underlying the charges: "If peacefully practicing religion together without any signs of extremism is equated with continuing the activity of a liquidated legal entity, then the legally established line between the constitutional right to freedom of worship and criminal liability is erased."

At the Omsk Regional Court hearings up to 50 listeners gathered — even though the courtroom was designed for 20 seats. The bailiff and court secretary were accommodating: they initiated to have additional chairs brought in to the room.

During the proceedings in the first instance, the defense sought acquittal, citing the absence of both the event and the elements of the crime, and the lack of sufficient evidence. The lawyer also pointed out that the prosecution substituted concepts, equating permitted religious activity with the activity of the liquidated legal entity.

The criminal case against Rygaev and Pyzhov was initiated in February 2024. Their homes were searched, accompanied by the use of force; both men were placed in the pretrial detention center, where they spent nearly half a year. The believers were convicted of "organizing the activity of an extremist organization" in April 2026.