Another Resident of Crimea — Artem Gerasimov — Has Been Released. He Spent 6 Years in a Penal Colony

On June 3, 2026, 41-year-old Artem Gerasimov was released after fully serving his sentence. Friends met him outside penal colony No. 12 in the Rostov Region.

"It's hard even to imagine that millions of people around the world were praying for me. Just realizing that was a huge support to me," said Artem, reflecting on his six years in prison.

In the penal colony, Artem first worked in a sewing shop, making medical gowns, rubberized suits, and masks. Later, he worked in a shop producing metal scouring pads. For his diligence, the believer received commendations in the form of certificates and extra care packages.

Artem tried to get along with prison staff and fellow inmates alike, regardless of their position or status. "At one point, one inmate tried to take out his resentment on me," the believer recalled. "But that lasted only a few days. Then things settled down. Later, he even said goodbye to me with a smile."

"Throughout my sentence, I always tried to keep up with the stories of fellow believers who were being persecuted. And the hardest thing for me was watching them go through that very first stage — the beginning of their troubles. Because I know what it was like for me, and I know what it became later. Once you've gone through persecution yourself, you start taking things much more calmly," Artem said.

Altogether, 18 residents of Crimea have been convicted for their faith in Jehovah God. Fifteen of them received real prison terms, and 14 remain behind bars.