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, 13 day in prison
Current restrictions: detention center
Sentence: imprisonment for 6 years in a general regime penal colony
Currently held in: Detention Center No. 1 in Republic of Crimea and city of Sevastopol
Address for correspondence: Parfenovich Sergey Georgiyevich, born 1972, SIZO No. 1 in Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, b-r Lenina, 4, g. Simferopol, Crimea, 295051

Letters of support can be sent by regular mail or through the «zonatelecom».

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

Biography

Sergey Parfenovich, 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. He spent more than a month in a detention center just 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 football.

After school, Sergey graduated from a vocational college as an electrician for the repair of electrical equipment. Throughout his life, he managed to work at a bakery and a construction site, as a furniture maker and a cleaner of a sports complex. Since January 2020, he has been caring 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 a paradise on earth and that people will live forever. This knowledge of and appreciation for God prompted him to become a Christian in 1993.

In 1997, Sergey married Marina, a primary school teacher, and together they have four sons and two daughters. 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 playing chess and enjoying nature in the mountains and by the sea.

As a result of the criminal prosecution, the life of this large family has changed a lot. Since the four older children live separately, Sergey's duties while he was behind bars fell on the shoulders of his wife and younger children. Marina has serious heart problems, and other chronic illnesses have worsened due to stress.

The hardships associated with the prosecution brought the family closer like never before. Everyone tries not to lose heart and their positive attitude.

Case History

In September 2022, armed security forces raided the family home of Sergey Parfenovich, father of six. They searched the believer’s house for 6 hours in the presence of his minor daughter and elderly disabled father. After that, Parfenovich was detained and taken to Simferopol for interrogation. He spent 2 days in a temporary detention facility and 1.5 months in a pretrial detention center, and then he was placed under house arrest for 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. Sergey was charged with organizing the activity of an extremist organization. The same charge was brought against Yuriy Gerashchenko in March 2023. He spent 2 days in a temporary detention facility and nearly 9 months under house arrest. In July 2023, the case went to court, a year later, Sergey and Yuriy were given 6-year suspended sentences. The court of appeal changed it to prison terms.
Timeline