Nikolai Romanyuk is a political prisoner
A pastor from Moscow Oblast has been sentenced to 4 years in a penal colony for an anti-war sermon
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Nikolai Romanyuk a political prisoner. Romanyuk was convicted on a charge of ‘making calls to engage in activity directed against the security of the state’ for an anti-war sermon. His criminal prosecution violated his rights to freedom of expression and fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Nikolai Romanyuk and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Nikolai Romanyuk?
Nikolai Romanyuk is the senior pastor of the Church of the Holy Trinity, a Pentecostal church, and a father of nine children. On 25 September 2022, he gave a sermon in which he condemned participation in the war and urged his congregation not to take part in military action, comparing involvement in the war to sinful temptation. The sermon was filmed and posted on the church’s YouTube channel, though it was later deleted.
On 18 October 2024, Romanyuk’s home was searched, and the pastor himself was detained with demonstrative brutality. During the search, his children were taken outside and forced to lie face down on the ground and remain in that position for about 12 hours. Romanyuk was charged with making public calls to engage in activity directed against the security of the Russian Federation (Article 280.4, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code).
On 20 October 2024, Romanyuk was remanded in custody. Despite his advanced age and health issues, the court repeatedly refused to transfer him to house arrest. According to his daughter, Romanyuk rapidly lost weight, suffers from deteriorating eyesight and hearing, and may have suffered a mild stroke.
On 3 September 2025 Nikolai Romanyuk was sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment in a general regime penal colony.
Why do we consider Romanyuk a political prisoner?
Nikolai Romanyuk’s criminal prosecution is intended to suppress freedom of conscience and intimidate opponents of Russia’s war of aggression and is politically motivated.
The extremely vague wording of the offence with which he has been charged – ‘making calls to engage in activity directed against the security of the state’ – facilitates arbitrary application of the law, and in practice, prosecution for virtually any public statements about government actions.
Nevertheless, even in such a vague form, the charge in question provides for prosecution for ‘calls to engage in criminal activity,’ whereas Romanyuk in his sermon explicitly stated that refusal to serve in the military is possible under the law. Romanyuk said: ‘Our doctrine sets out that we are pacifists and cannot take part in this. […] It is our right to profess this, based on the Holy Scriptures. We do not bless those who go there, or those taken there by force. We do not bless them, but we pray that they will be delivered from that place. There are various lawful ways of doing this.’ This makes his prosecution particularly absurd.
Romanyuk’s sermon did not pose a threat to society. On the contrary, it was aimed at saving human lives. In it, he expressed his pacifist views and appealed to the right to alternative civilian service, in full compliance with the law and international human rights standards.
A detailed description of Nikolai Romanyuk’s case and of our position is available on our website.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project agrees with, or approves, their views, statements, or actions
How can you help?
You can write to Nikolai Romanyuk at the following address:
RU: 142400, Московская область, г. Ногинск, ул. 1-я Ревсобраний, д. 17, ФКУ СИЗО-11 УФСИН России по Московской области, Романюку Николаю Николаевичу 1962 г. р.
EN: Nikolai Nikolaevich Romanyuk (born 1962), Remand Prison No. 11, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Moscow region, 17 1st Revsobrany Street, Noginsk, Moscow Oblast, 142400, Russia.
You can also send an email using F-Pismo (for payment with Russian bank cards), PrisonMail (for payment with other bank cards), ZT (for payment with all bank cards), OVD-Info and Memorial-France (free of charge).
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the intended recipient.
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
