Vladimir Atrуakhin

February 4, 2019, in Saransk (Mordovia), criminal proceedings were instituted against three Witnesses, charging extremism. They are accused of “spreading ideology and faith among the inhabitants of the Republic of Mordovia." One of those arrested is Vladimir Atrуakhin. What is known about this person?

Vladimir was born in 1987 in S. Rozhdestveno (Mordovia). He and his younger brother were raised in an incomplete family. Since childhood, he has loved sports, enjoys playing football, volleyball, hockey, intellectual games with friends. When back in school, he became deeply interested in the Bible.

Vladimir is a programmer by profession, works as a system administrator for two companies, and also edits a scientific journal of Mordovia State University. His neighbors respect him i.e., he heads the house committee in the house where he lives (means he is a head of the homeowners association in his neighborhood).

In 2009, Vladimir married Maria. The couple have two small children who were 9 months and 2 years old at the time of his arrest.

Relatives of Vladimir perceive his prosecution as a tragedy. They cannot understand how in a free country, where the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, human rights are violated. Those of them who previously did not approve of Vladimir’s religious views are now trying to help him as much as they can.