Two believers, who experienced beatings in an Orenburg correctional facility, may be released early. A court decision is expected soon

Saratov residents Roman Gridasov and Gennady German, sentenced to 2 years in prison for their faith, served half their sentence. In September, the defense requested their release in exchange for a fine. It is expected that the Central District Court of Orenburg will consider their application in November 2020.

In September 2019, 51-year-old painter Gennady German and 42-year-old finisher Roman Gridasov were convicted of reading the Holy Scripture, singing spiritual songs and praying to God Jehovah. Upon arrival at Colony 2 in Orenburg, they and three of their fellow believers were beaten up by guards. Feliks Makhammadiev was the most severely injured - he was hospitalized and operated on with broken ribs, kidney and lung injuries. Gridasov and Herman also suffered injuries then, but not related to health threats. After the incident, believers faced pressure - they were forced to refuse to testify about the beatings. On the first day of arrival at the colony, Gridasov and Herman were accused of allegedly smoking (Jehovah's Witnesses do not smoke on religious grounds) and punished accordingly.

Eight months have elapsed since then. Herman and Gridasov have already recovered from the incident and are working in the sewing industry. Roman also mastered the profession of a cook.

"Believers have to work from morning till evening. After a working day, they often only have time to wash and wash their clothes. The conditions in the colony are bad. Prisoners are given only a small nightstand to store things. Clothes are of poor quality. According to those who have been kept in the colony for a long time, in summer it is very difficult to get permission to take off the dense clothes, when because of the hot weather the body gets very hot and you have to work in the direct sense of your own sweat. Their health condition has deteriorated, they have lost weight and their chronic diseases have worsened," said the lawyer after his visit back in spring. Shortly after his departure, COVID-19 was quarantined in connection with the pandemic.

By September 2020, Roman Gridasov and Gennady Herman had already served more than half of their sentence and were eligible for release if the court allowed them to pay a fine in exchange for the unpaid part of the sentence. On September 21 the defense of Hermann and Gridasov filed a corresponding motion. A total of two de jure believers had already been imprisoned for 421 days (or 14 months out of the 24 appointed). Of these, 3 days in a temporary detention facility and another 93 days in a pretrial detention facility (which counts as 1 day for 1.5 days). Another 277 days the believers had left for the colony.

After filing a petition, Gennady Herman was reprimanded for allegedly failing to say hello to the colony staff, which allowed the institution's administration to give a negative characterization to the court.

In the run-up to the trial, the believers maintained a positive attitude thanks to the support of Orenburg's close and sympathetic residents. Letters from dozens of different countries also keep believers from drowning in their spirits.

The arrest and mockery of the Saratov believers caused a sharp condemnation of the international community.