Arsen Avanesov and his mother, Stella, on their way home, October 9, 2024

Arsen Avanesov and his mother, Stella, on their way home, October 9, 2024

Arsen Avanesov and his mother, Stella, on their way home, October 9, 2024

Served Sentences

Arsen Avanesov From Rostov Was Released From the Penal Colony, Having Completely Served the Term for His Faith in Jehovah God

Rostov Region

On October 9, 2024, Arsen Avanesov, 41, was released from Penal Colony No. 3 for the Ulyanovsk Region. He was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment for practicing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. Subsequently, the believer spent 2.5 years in a pretrial detention center and about 3 years in a penal colony.

Arsen was released as the last of three defendants in a criminal case, which was initiated by the Rostov-on-Don Investigative Committee in 2019. In February 2024, Arsen's elderly father, Vilen Avanesov, was released from the colony having spent almost 5 years behind bars, and in August 2024, Aleksandr Parkov completed his term.

In the penal colony, Arsen worked in a sewing workshop and established himself as a reliable and hardworking person. For his hard work and participation in the colony's sports events, he received several awards.

Letters of support and parcels that he received from different countries helped the believer greatly to remain optimistic. One day, Arsen received a parcel from England — an elderly couple sent him, among other things, eyeglasses, which were useful to other believers imprisoned in the same colony.

Shortly before his release, Arsen said that in his "thoughts he is already at home," but he is worried that he "will have to learn how to do some things again" after 5.5 years behind bars.

The Case of Avanesovs and Others in Rostov-on-Don

Case History
Searches, arrests, humiliation and intimidation — in May 2019, Aleksandr Parkov, Vilen and Arsen Avanesov from Rostov-on-Don were detained by officers of the Investigative Committee for allegedly continuing the activity of the banned organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses. They were placed in a pretrial detention center, where they spent 925 days. The charges against the believers were based on falsifications and the testimony of a provocateur recruited by the FSB. In July 2021, the court sentenced Vilen to 6 years in a penal colony, and Aleksandr and Arsen to 6.5 years. The courts of appeal and cassation upheld this decision. Arsen was also charged under another article — financing the activity of an extremist organization, and his sentence was increased to 7 years. In February 2024, Vilen Avanesov was released, having served his term in full. In August 2024, Aleksandr Parkov, and in October Arsen Avanesov were also released from the penal colony.
Timeline

Persons in case

Avanesov
Arsen
Avanesov
Vilen
Parkov
Aleksandr

Criminal case

Region:
Rostov Region
Locality:
Rostov-on-Don
Suspected of:
According to the investigation they continued their activity and led the Local Religious Organization (LRO) of Jehovah's Witnesses, received religious literature, invited other people to join the meetings for worship, and used their places of residence for meetings
Court case number:
11902007712000035
Initiated:
May 22, 2019
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
First Investigation Directorate (deployed in Rostov-on-Don) of the Main Investigation Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1), 282.3 (1)
Court case number:
1-44/2021 (1-415/2020)
Court:
Leninskiy District Court for the City of Rostov-on-Don
Judge:
Vladimir Hudaverdyan
Case History