Jehovah’s Witness in Moscow Region Sentenced to 4 Years in Penal Colony. Сourt Finds Believer Guilty of Extremism

On February 12, 2026, in Dmitrov, Andrey Lukin, 42, was sentenced to prison for his faith, although in the case there are no victims, no witnesses, no specified time or place of the alleged "crime" — something the defense drew attention to.

Lukin was taken into custody in April 2025. For the first time in their 15 years of marriage, he was separated from his wife, Yelena, for an extended period. The couple stayed in touch mostly through letters, and occasionally they were able to speak at court hearings. Over time, they were granted phone calls and short visits. Andrey supported his wife emotionally in every way he could — with the help of friends, he even arranged a small celebration of their wedding anniversary right in the courtroom.

From the detention center, Andrey wrote to his wife: "So long as a tree bends, the wind cannot break it. So you need to be able to adapt to changing circumstances in life." Yelena did just so. Wanting to be closer to her husband, she decided to move. The everyday responsibilities Andrey used to handle now fell entirely on her shoulders. She is grateful to friends for their help during that time: they attended hearings, wrote letters, invited her over, supported her financially, and helped with the move and car maintenance.

While in detention, Andrey's chronic illnesses worsened but he was unable to undergo the necessary medical examinations. He was worried that all the care for his elderly mother and mother‑in‑law now rested on his wife alone. He asked the court to change his preventive measure to a non-custodial one, so he could look after his family and receive medical treatment, but the request was denied.

The first search of the Lukin family home took place in 2023 — marking the beginning of Andrey's prosecution. Law enforcement officers came again 1.5 years later: he was detained and placed in a detention center. He emphasized that he had never called on anyone to commit unlawful actions. During the hearings, witnesses described Andrey as kind, compassionate, always ready to help, and a devoted family man.

Judge Olga Pershina of the Dmitrov City Court of the Moscow Region found the believer guilty of financing and participating in extremist activity.

The proceedings against Andrey Lukin became a continuation of the criminal prosecution based on the case files of Aleksandr Serebryakov. In August 2024, separate proceedings were started against Viktor Velikov, and in June 2025, against Lukin. On similar charges, Serebryakov received a 5‑year sentence in a penal colony, and Velikov 5.5 years.