Name: Chausov Dmitriy Vladimirovich
Date of Birth: February 27, 1988
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2)
Time spent in prison: 2 day in a temporary detention facility, 219 day in a pre-trial detention, 277 day Under house arrest
Current restrictions: detention center
Sentence: Imprisonment for a period of 2 years and 6 months in a general regime penal colony
Currently held in: Detention Center No.1 for Kursk Region
Address for correspondence: Chausov Dmitriy Vladimirovich, born 1988, Detention Center No.1 for Kursk Region, Ul. Pirogova, 1, Kursk, Kursk Region, 305016

Biography

In December 2024, the court sentenced Dmitriy Chausov and his wife, Oksana, to 2.5 years in a penal colony because of the peaceful practice of their religion.

Dmitriy was born in 1988 in Kursk. He was raised by his grandmother. In his youth, the boy was engaged in running. After school, he graduated from the railway technical school. In 2012, he served in the army. Then he worked in his specialty as a railway fitter. Before his arrest, he worked as a welder in the housing and communal services sector. In his free time, Dmitriy likes to do viticulture, he has his own small vineyard.

When Dmitriy began to read the Bible, he was impressed by the teaching on the resurrection of the dead, as he longed for his dead grandmother. He wanted to learn more about God and eventually dedicated his life to serving him in 2014, on the same day as his wife.

Dmitriy met Oksana in April 2012. Six months later they got married. Oksana is a master of manicure and pedicure. She was familiar with the Bible from childhood, as her grandparents were believers.

Religious persecution disrupted the usual way of life of a married couple. Once in the pre-trial detention center after the search, Dmitriy lost the opportunity to take care of his wife and support her. Also, because of his arrest, he had to interrupt treatment for a serious illness.

Case History

In August 2023, the homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses were searched in Kursk. An FSB investigator opened a criminal case against Nikolay Kupriyanskiy and spouses Dmitriy Chausov and Oksana Chausova. All three were detained. They were accused of organizing the activities of an extremist community and participating in it. Dmitriy was sent to a pre-trial detention center, and later, like Nikolay and Oksana, under house arrest. The Chausovs were separated due to a ban on communication. In June 2024, the case went to court. Six months later, the verdict was announced: Nikolay Kupriyanskiy received 6 years in a penal colony, Dmitriy and Oksana Chausov — 2 years and 6 months each.
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