Gromov Sergey

Name: Gromov Sergey Viktorovich
Date of Birth: June 5, 1969
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1), 282.3 (1)
Time spent in prison: 2 day in a temporary detention facility, 695 day in a pre-trial detention, 313 day in prison
Sentence: punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of 6 years and 1 month with serving in a correctional colony of general regime, with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to leadership and participation in the work of public organizations for a period of 5 years, with restriction of liberty for a period of 1 year
Currently held in: Correctional Colony No. 8 of the Republic of Tatarstan
Address for correspondence: Gromov Sergey Viktorovich, born 1969, Correctional Colony No. 8 of the Republic of Tatarstan, Ul. Bazovaya, 26, Almetyevsk, Republic of Tatarstan, 423450

Letters of support can be sent by regular mail or through the «zonatelecom».

Parcels and parcels should not be sent because of the limit on their number per year.

Note: discussing topics related to criminal prosecution is not allowed in letters; languages other than Russian will not pass.

Biography

Sergey Gromov from Kazan learned that a criminal case had been opened against him when, in March 2022, law enforcement officers unexpectedly detained him and his wife at a Moscow airport. The Gromovs' apartment was searched, the head of the family was sent to jail, where he remained until the verdict in February 2023. The judge's verdict was harsh—6 years and 1 month in prison.

Sergey was born in 1969 in Kazan, he has a twin brother. Parents divorced early, and the boys were raised by their grandmother. In his youth, Sergey became interested in playing the guitar, composing poetry and music. He graduated from a vocational technical school with a degree in graphic design, worked in a framing workshop.

In 1990, Sergey married Yelena. She is a physician by education and worked in surgery. The couple raised a son and a daughter. They like to do household chores together, relax, receive guests. In 1994, they also decided to study the Bible together. At that time, Sergey did not believe in God, because, as he said, he had never seen him. But after examining the scientific and biblical evidence for the existence of a loving Creator, he became a believer. The couple instilled a love for the Bible in their children.

Music is still an integral part of Sergey's life: he plays the guitar and often sings with family and friends. He also studies the Georgian language and draws. Together with his family, Sergey loves to be in nature.

Criminal prosecution has become stressful for the whole family. Relatives who do not share Sergey's religious views wonder how such a benevolent and peace-loving person could be accused of extremism. In their opinion, he would never have done anything extremist because of his beliefs based on the Holy Scriptures.

Case History

In March 2022, FSB officers detained Sergey and Yelena Gromov from Kazan at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow. Turnes out, an FSB investigator initiated a criminal case for organizing the activity of an extremist organization against Sergey, who practices the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Two secret witnesses participated in the case, one of whom was an FSB officer. The believer was arrested and placed in a temporary detention facility, and 2 days later in a pretrial detention center. Searches were carried out in the apartment of the Gromovs and at two other addresses. Later, he was suspected of violating another article of the Criminal Code – financing extremist activity. In February 2023, the case went to court, and in September of the same year, Gromov was convicted: 6 years and 1 month in a penal colony. In January 2024, the court of appeal upheld this decision, and 10 months later the court of cassation left the verdict unchanged.
Timeline
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