"Behind the case materials is a person's life and the lives of those close to him." Kurgan Court Fines Jehovah's Witness Roman Kuchin

On October 9, 2026, Judge Denis Cherkasov of the Kurgan City Court announced the verdict against Roman Kuchin, 32. The believer was convicted of participating in the activity of an extremist organization and fined 300,000 rubles.

About 7 weeks passed from the first court hearing to the verdict. The state prosecutor requested a 4-year sentence in a penal colony for the believer.

"I do not agree with the prosecution's conclusion about the criminal nature [of participating in meetings for worship]," Roman stated. "I did not think and do not think that praying, reading the Bible, and communicating with fellow believers means continuing the activity of a banned organization. To me, this was an expression of faith."

One of the key episodes of the proceedings was the interrogation of a secret witness under the pseudonym Korablyov. When Roman asked the witness directly whether he had personally witnessed even one unlawful act on Roman's part, no answer followed.

A criminal case against Roman was initiated by the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Kurgan Region in late May 2026. At that time, the Kuchins were living in a rented apartment in Tyumen. "The morning search was a heavy shock for my wife and me. After that, we had to return to Kurgan. Now I take on construction gigs and look for permanent work... I just ask you to remember that behind the case files is the life of a specific person and his loved ones," Roman mentioned in his final statement. Throughout the entire investigation, the believer was under a recognizance agreement.

In the Kurgan Region, 12 Jehovah's Witnesses have already faced criminal prosecution for their faith.