Sarazhakov Denis

Name: Sarazhakov Denis Aleksandrovich
Date of Birth: May 15, 1988
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)
Time spent in prison: 1 day in a temporary detention facility, 1065 day in a pre-trial detention
Current restrictions: detention center
Sentence: punishment in the form of 6 years 4 months of imprisonment with serving a sentence in a general regime colony, with deprivation of the right to engage in organizational activities in public or religious associations, public or religious organizations for a term of 5 years, with restriction of liberty for a term of 1 year 2 months
Currently held in: Detention Centre No. 1 in Irkutsk Region
Address for correspondence: Sarazhakov Denis Aleksandrovich, born 1988, Detention Centre No. 1 in Irkutsk Region, ul. Barrikad, 63, Irkutsk, Russia, 664019

Letters of support can be sent by regular mail or through the «FSIN-letter system». To pay for service with the card of a foreign bank use Prisonmail.

Note: discussing topics related to criminal prosecution is not allowed in letters; languages other than Russian will not pass.

Biography

In November 2021, security forces searched the home of Denis Sarazhakov, who lived with his wife in the village of Askiz (Republic of Khakassia). He was arrested and taken to Irkutsk - 1500 kilometers from home. Because of his faith in Jehovah God, he was thrown into a pre-trial detention center.

Denis was born in May 1988 in the city of Sayanogorsk (Republic of Khakassia). The parents raised five children: 4 boys and a girl. Now his mother and father are retired.

At school, Denis studied excellently and finished it with a silver medal. He also attended several sports sections and was fond of stone carving.

Denis graduated from the Polytechnic College with honors. There he got the profession of a technician for the maintenance and repair of cars, but worked in other fields - a master of finishing works, and then an advertising manager.

Already from his school years, Denis was familiar with the Bible and was drawn to the spiritual. Over the years, he gained the confidence to live in harmony with Bible principles and decided to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Later, driven by peace-loving Christian convictions, Denis defended his right to alternative service, but did not have to undergo it for health reasons.

Denis met his future wife Olesya in his youth. From childhood, she was attracted by the biblical promises of a wonderful future and an understandable description of the qualities of God. In 2007, Denis and Olesya got married. She works as a manicurist. The couple share a love for sports, go hiking, ride bicycles. Denis is also fond of football. The Sarazhakovs love to cook together and spend time with friends.

After the arrest of Denis, Olesya had to leave her home, friends and go to distant Irkutsk to take care of her husband. Against the background of stress after the arrest of her son, Denis's mother had a microstroke, and she was hospitalized.

Denis has a good reputation and is respected by his colleagues. Relatives and friends, as well as everyone who knows him, consider it absurd that this kind, responsible and sympathetic young man was branded an "extremist".

Case History

In October 2021, a series of searches took place in Irkutsk and the Irkutsk Region, which were accompanied by assault and brutal beatings of peaceful the believers. Jehovah's Witnesses Yaroslav Kalin, Sergey Kosteyev, Nikolay Martynov, Mikhail Moysh, Aleksey Solnechny, Andrey Tolmachev, and Sergey Vasilyev were accused of extremism only for their faith. After searches and interrogations, they were detained; six of them were sent to a pretrial detention center and one was placed under house arrest. Two months later, law enforcement officers conducted two more searches: in the village of Askiz (Republic of Khakassia) in the home of Denis Sarazhakov and in the city of Mezhdurechensk (Kemerovo Region) in the home of Igor Popov. Both of them were arrested, taken more than 1500 km to Irkutsk and placed in custody. In December 2022, the case of the believers went to court. In January 2024, the court sentenced them to various terms of imprisonment in a penal colony, from 3 to 7 years, satisfying the prosecutor’s request.
Timeline
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