Updated: April 26, 2024
Name: Klokov Valeriy Valeriyevich
Date of Birth: August 16, 1985
Current status: accused
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2), 282.2 (1)
Time spent in prison: 2 day in a temporary detention facility, 270 day Under house arrest
Current restrictions: House arrest

Biography

In the summer of 2023, peaceful believer Valery Klokov was prosecuted for his beliefs. Due to house arrest, the man lost his job, and it became more difficult for him to take care of his elderly grandmother, who is seriously ill.

Valery was born in August 1985 in the city of Ekibastuz (Kazakhstan). He has two brothers and a sister. In 1996, the family moved from Kazakhstan to Russia. The father is no longer alive, he has not communicated with his son since the age of seven. Valeriy's mother died of cancer when he was 14, and a month and a half later his stepfather left him.

As a child, Valery was fond of music and reading fiction, loved to compose and perform songs on the guitar. He graduated with honors from a secondary school and a music school with honors in the accordion class.

Valery studied at the Altai Construction College and the Altai College of Architecture and Construction, specializing in plumber and welder. He worked as a shoe repairman, and before criminal prosecution - as a plumber.

Studying the Bible, Valery became convinced of its historical and scientific accuracy, as well as the practicality of its advice. All this prompted him to embark on the Christian path at a young age.

In 2004, Valery married Natalia, whom he had known since he was a teenager. She worked as a cook, salesman, and more recently in the field of keeping clean and tidy. Natalia is fond of scrapbooking and soap making, and Valery still loves to read, write music and study vocals.

The criminal prosecution disrupted the Klokovs' usual way of life: due to the loss of his job, Valery cannot take care of the material needs of the family, and Natalia's health problems have worsened. Together with the spouses lives Grandmother Valeria, who is already under 90, needs constant care and taking expensive medicines. Her pension is not even enough to meet her basic needs.

Relatives of Valeriy and Natalia wonder how this respectable and law-abiding person can be prosecuted.

Case History

In the summer of 2023, the Investigative Committee in Barnaul opened a criminal case against Jehovah’s Witness Valeriy Klokov. His house was searched. After interrogation and two days in a temporary detention facility, the believer was placed under house arrest. In April 2024, the charge against Klokov was reclassified as organizing the activities of an extremist organization. At the same time, another defendant appeared in the case—Vitaliy Manuylov. He was accused of participating in the activities of an extremist organization and was also placed under house arrest.