Gumenyuk case in Korsakov Roman Gumenyuk

  RUSSIA

Gumenyuk case in Korsakov

Roman Gumenyuk

Updated: October 2, 2023

Name: Gumenyuk, Roman Ivanovich

Date of Birth: January 1, 1982

Current status: suspect

Article of the Russian Criminal Code: 282.2 (2)

Biography

In August 2023, Roman Gumenyuk faced persecution for his faith. During Soviet times, his father, a Jehovah's Witness, spent three years in prison for his peace-loving views and was later rehabilitated as a victim of political repression.

Roman was born in January 1982 in the village of Zalari, Irkutsk region. He grew up in a large family - he has two sisters and two brothers. When the boy was 6 years old, the family moved to Kyrgyzstan, the village of Belovodskoye, four years later to the village of Verchchulymka (Krasnoyarsk Territory), and then to Nazarovo. The parents are no longer alive.

As a child, Roman loved to play football, volleyball, basketball, table tennis and billiards. He also learned to play the guitar. After school, he graduated from the Energy Construction College, where he received a degree in mechanical engineering. For a year he worked as a mechanic repairing industrial machines at a factory, later as a watchman, then as a truck and bus driver. Recently he has been repairing household appliances.

Roman was familiar with biblical teachings from childhood. As he grew older, he began to study the Bible more deeply and became convinced of the consistency of the book. He loved to communicate with Jehovah's Witnesses, he liked their openness, ability to enjoy little things and love for life. At the age of 21, he also decided to become a Jehovah's Witness.

Roman had known his wife Olesya since childhood. They got married in 2005. Olesya is a fourth-generation Jehovah's Witness: her great-grandparents and grandparents were exiled to Siberia in 1951 for their religious views. Olesya's father, like Roman's father, served 3 years in prison during Soviet times for refusing to join the army. By profession, Roman’s wife is an economist and accountant, she worked as a gas station operator and in a cafe, she loves growing vegetables and making preparations.

Roman and Olesya love to spend time outdoors and travel on a motorcycle to picturesque places. They also enjoy socializing with friends and playing sports games.

In 2007, the couple moved to the Republic of Khakassia. There Roman served as an alternative civilian service. Because of his peace-loving views, he defended his right to this service, which is not associated with military structures, in court for several years. The couple lived in Khakassia for 9 years, and in 2016 they left for Sakhalin, where they still live.

“Life was divided into before and after,” says Roman, “as we had to completely adapt to new realities.” The family was stressed. They cannot understand how in the 21st century a person can be persecuted for good deeds.

Criminal case

Region:

Sakhalin Region

Locality:

Korsakov

Criminal case number:

12302640018000051

Current stage of the case:

preliminary investigation

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (2)