Parfenovich Sergey

Name: Parfenovich Sergey Georgiyevich
Date of Birth: May 21, 1972
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)
Time spent in prison: 2 day in a temporary detention facility, 47 day in a pre-trial detention, 579 day Under house arrest, 481 day in prison
Sentence: imprisonment for 6 years in a general regime penal colony, with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to participation in public organizations for a period of 5 years, with restriction of liberty for a period of 1 year
Term of imprisonment: until April 2029
Currently held in: Correctional Colony No. 8 of the Astrakhan Region

Parfenovich Sergey Georgiyevich, born 1972, Correctional Colony No. 8 of the Astrakhan Region, Ul. Sovetskoy Gvardii, 50, Astrakhan, Astrakhan Region, 414044

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

Parcels and parcels should not be sent because of the limit on their number per year.

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

Biography

Sergey Parfyonovich, father of six, became another victim of criminal prosecution in September 2022 after a series of searches in the homes of Crimean Jehovah's Witnesses. The court sent him to a penal colony because of his faith.

Sergey was born in May 1972 in the village of Mirnoye (Crimea). His mother and father, who is visually impaired, are already retired. Sergey has two sisters. As a child, he was fond of playing football.

After school, Sergey graduated from a vocational school as an electrician for the repair of electrical equipment. During his life, he managed to work at a bakery plant, as a furniture maker, a cleaner on the territory of a sports complex, at a construction site. From January 2020 until his imprisonment, he cared for his sick father.

Sergey found meaning in life when he learned about God and Jesus from the Bible. He was amazed and comforted that, according to this book, in the future there will be paradise on earth and that people will live forever. This knowledge and appreciation for God prompted him to become a Christian in 1993.

In 1997, Sergey married Marina, a primary school teacher, with whom four sons and two daughters were born. Marina is now retired. She and their six children share Sergey's beliefs and support him during this difficult situation in life. The couple loves spending time together with their children and families, as well as having friends around.

Sergey is still fond of football and often plays it with his sons and friends. He also loves to play chess and enjoy nature in the mountains and the sea.

Because of criminal prosecution, the life of a large family has changed a lot. Since the four older children live separately, Sergey's responsibilities fell on the shoulders of the couple and younger children. Marina has serious heart problems, and other chronic illnesses have worsened due to stress.

The difficulties associated with the criminal prosecution brought the family closer together than ever. Everyone is trying not to lose cheerfulness and a positive attitude.

Case History

In September 2022, the family of Sergey Parfenovich, the father of six children, was raided by armed law enforcement officers. They searched the believer’s home for six hours in the presence of his minor daughter and elderly disabled father. After that, Parfenovich was detained and taken for interrogation to Simferopol. He spent 2 days in a temporary detention facility and 1.5 months in a pre-trial detention center, and then he was transferred to house arrest, which lasted 1.5 years. The case was investigated by the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee for the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. Parfenovich was accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization. In March 2023, the same charge was brought against Yuriy Gerashchenko. He spent 2 days in a temporary detention center and almost 9 months under house arrest. In July 2023, the case went to court. A year later Sergey and Yuriy were sentenced to 6 years of suspended imprisonment. The appeal replaced the terms with real ones. This decision was upheld by the court of cassation.
Timeline
Back to top