The Blagoveshchensk City Court of the Amur Region convicted Brothers Sergey Afanasiyev, Sergey Kardakov, a Anton Olshevskiy, Adam Svarichevskiy, and Sergey Yermilov. Brother Afanasiyev was sentenced to six years and five months in prison. Brother Kardakov was sentenced to six years and four months in prison. Brothers Olshevskiy, Svarichevskiy, and Yermilov were all sentenced to six years and three months in prison. The brothers were taken into custody in the courtroom.

1. July 20, 2018

   Authorities searched the homes of Brothers Afanasiyev, Olshevskiy, and Svarichevskiy

2. October 21, 2019

   Criminal case initiated against Brothers Yermilov and Olshevskiy for taking part in religious events that officials claimed would have “socially dangerous consequences”

3. September 10, 2020

   Criminal case initiated against Brother Svarichevskiy. Accused of joining Brothers Olshevskiy and Yermilov in participating in the religious activities of a banned organization

4. September 18, 2020

   Brother Afanasiyev added to the criminal case

5. September 24, 2020

   Brother Kardakov’s apartment searched. Included in the criminal case and accused of undermining the foundations of the constitutional order and security of the state for reading from the Bible and praying to Jehovah God

6. March 12, 2021

   Brother Olshevskiy additionally charged with organizing banned religious meetings and coordinating preaching activities

7. October 21, 2021

   Criminal trial began

Our brothers are setting a sterling example by keeping their eyes focused, not on the temporary persecution they are facing, but on the everlasting reward that lies ahead for those trusting in Jehovah.—2 Corinthians 4:17, 18.