Forced Labour Completed: Vitaliy Manuylov Released

On May 15, 2026, Vitaliy Manuylov, 53, was released from a correctional center in Barnaul after completing his term of forced labor. His elderly mother, wife, daughter and two grandchildren were "counting the hours" until his return. Vitaliy says he is happy that he managed to "serve his entire sentence with dignity."

The believer carried out his forced labor at the "Melanzhist Altai" textile manufacturer, in the weaving preparatory department. Vitaliy worked there as a general assistant, unloading and transporting bobbins of yarn. "I did the best I could, worked double shifts, sometimes throwing as much as 13 tons of yarn per shift," he said. "At first I had a lot of energy, but then the fatigue built up... My body didn't have time to recover — my arms and legs started to hurt." In addition to his factory work, Vitaliy helped with maintenance and improvement of the buildings and grounds of the correctional center.

He was highly valued at the company. A forewoman with more than 40 years of experience said that in all that time she had never seen anyone work as diligently or be as reliable as Vitaliy. One of the company's directors noted that Manuylov would be remembered as a good worker and added that they would be happy to give him a job if he wanted.

Vitaliy's criminal prosecution began in the summer of 2023: his home was searched and he was interrogated in connection with the case of Valeriy Klokov. Later, Vitaliy was charged with participating in the activity of an extremist organization. In November 2024, the court sentenced him to 2 years of forced labor. He was held in the correctional center from March 2025.

In the Altai Territory, at least 12 believers have become defendants in cases for extremism because of their beliefs; 3 of them are already serving their sentences in penal colonies.