Biography
In November 2018, authorities conducted a series of searches at the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses in Spassk-Dalny, Primorye Territory. Dmytro Malevaniy was detained. After several years of investigation and trial, the court sentenced him to 7 years in prison only because of his faith.
Dmitry was born in 1990 in Spassk-Dalny, where he has lived all his life. By education, he is a specialist in the field of applied informatics in economics, and all the time, from studying at a university and up to criminal prosecution, he worked in one place - he taught programming in college.
As a teenager, Dmitry was convinced that the Bible gives clear and logical answers to questions, and life according to high biblical standards makes people better and happier. This prompted him to embark on the Christian path. Dmitry is married to his peer Ulyana, a graduate of an art school.
Friends and family do not understand why this peaceful man was thrown behind bars just because of his beliefs. Dmitry's colleagues, who do not share his religious views, support him and urge him not to give up in this difficult situation.
Case History
In the fall of 2018, searches were carried out in Spassk-Dalniy at the homes of Dmitriy Malevaniy, Aleksey Trofimov, Olga Panyuta, Olga Opaleva and other fellow believers. The reason for the prosecution of peaceful citizens was their faith in Jehovah God. The believers were charged with organizing the activity of an extremist organization and involving others in it. The case is based on the testimony of secret witnesses “Sidorova” and “Ivanova”, who monitored the believers on instructions from the FSB. On the eve of the search, Olga Opaleva suffered a heart attack, and later, on the way to court, a stroke. The four believers spent 1 year under house arrest, and from November 2019 were under a recognizance agreement. In December 2019, the case went to court. In February 2023, the believers were sentenced: Dmitriy Malevaniy was given 7 years, Aleksey Trofimov — 6.5 years and Olga Panyuta — 4.5 years in a penal colony, and Olga Opaleva — 5 years suspended. The court of appeal reduced each of these terms by 2 months; the court of cassation upheld this decision. Olga Panyuta completed her sentence in April, 2026.
