Aleksey Khabarov Released After Serving More Than 2 Years in Penal Colony for “Wrong” Religion

When prisoner of conscience Aleksey Khabarov appeared at the gates of the penal colony, he was greeted with applause by family and friends — more than 40 people. The 50-year-old believer from Pskov completed his sentence on January 16, 2026. He spent most of his term in penal colony No. 4 in the city of Valday, and the last 6 months in penal colony No. 9 in the village of Parfino.

Aleksey described life in the colony as monotonous, like "Groundhog Day." What brightened his days was corresponding with people who cared — by the time of his release, he had received more than 2,600 letters. In his free time, Aleksey participated in sports competitions, including chess. His parents could not visit him because of the long distances, so he is grateful to friends who came instead; some traveling hundreds of kilometers.

While in prison, Aleksey, like dozens of Jehovah's Witnesses convicted across the country, faced additional pressure. He was placed in a punishment cell several times and given reprimands; once — for swapping jackets with another inmate because the one issued to him was not his size. Aleksey said what helped him: "Whenever they sent me to the punishment cell and the administration rebuked me, I reminded myself who I am and why I am here, and I saw it all as attacks on my faith."

The court considered Khabarov's case three times. At the first trial, he was given a suspended sentence; the second time, Judge Aleksey Nikitin acquitted him; however, in October 2023, his colleague Natalya Kapustina sent the believer to a penal colony.