JUNE 8, 2022
RUSSIA

UPDATE—BROTHER RELEASED | Supported by Fellow Worshippers

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On November 10, 2022, the Vologda Regional Court announced its verdict in the appeal of Brothers Yuriy Baranov and Nikolay Stepanov. Yuriy’s sentence remains unchanged. Nikolay’s previous sentence of four years in prison was reduced to a four-year suspended prison sentence. He was immediately released from custody.

On September 5, 2022, the Vologda City Court convicted Yuriy and Nikolay. Yuriy received a suspended prison sentence of four years. He is not required to go to prison at this time. Nikolay received a prison sentence of four years. His sentence began immediately.

Time Line

December 19, 2019

Security forces broke into the homes of six families of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Vologda. Yuriy and Nikolay were arrested and placed in a temporary detention center
December 20, 2019

Yuriy was released and placed under house arrest
December 23, 2019

Nikolay was sent to pretrial detention
March 16, 2020

Yuriy was released from house arrest but remained under certain restrictions that limited his communication with others involved in his criminal case and his use of the telephone and Internet
May 19, 2020

Yuriy’s restrictions were lifted
August 13, 2020

Nikolay was released from pretrial detention and placed under house arrest
September 25, 2020

Nikolay was released from house arrest
March 7, 2022

The criminal trial began

Profiles

Yuriy Baranov

Born: 1952 (Vologda, Vologda Region)

Biography: Worked as a gas and electric welder. Now retired and is the caregiver for his 90-year-old disabled mother

Married Nadezhda in 1990

After searching for answers to life’s big questions, they began studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. Baptized in 1994

Personal Comments

What words of encouragement have you received that have helped you to endure?

The brothers and sisters send me cards and call me often. I remember one brother telling me: “This all had a beginning; it will have an end as well.” . . . There was even a guard in the detention center that told me: “Everything is going to be all right.” I considered these comments to be a way that my heavenly Father was strengthening me. . . . These experiences remind me what a caring Father Jehovah is.

Nikolay Stepanov

Born: 1974 (Vologda)

Biography: Served in the army before becoming one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Works as an interior finisher

Was an atheist. His fiancée, Alla, began to study the Bible with her mother in 1995. Alla helped him become convinced of God’s existence. They were both baptized in 1996 and married in 1997. They have one son

Personal Comments

How have your spiritual brothers and sisters supported you during this difficult time?

At one of my court appearances, it was extremely encouraging to see the courtroom full of my brothers and sisters—nearly 50 of them!

The brothers and sisters also send me cards . . . , and they pray for me. Something one sister wrote really touched me: “Dear Brother! Continue remaining courageous and steadfast. Jehovah will be by your side the whole time. We, your friends, will earnestly pray for you, and we will be right there by your side in our thoughts. Our Father will look down on you and smile because he is pleased to see your loyalty, and he is proud of you.”

It is faith strengthening to see our brothers continue to demonstrate faithfulness despite persecution.—1 Thessalonians 3:7.

Jehovah’s Witnesses

UPDATE—BROTHER RELEASED | Supported by Fellow Worshippers

Time Line

Profiles

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