Updated: May 2, 2024
Name: Kokovin Anton Pavlovich
Date of Birth: July 10, 1990
Current status: Defendant
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2)
Current restrictions: Recognizance agreement

Biography

Two searches in a day, an interrogation and a threat of imprisonment — a criminal case for faith turned the life of an engineer from Yaroslavl, Anton Kokovin.

Anton was born in July 1990 in the city of Yaroslavl, where he still lives. His mother works as a sales assistant, his father is retired, a disabled person of group II.

Since childhood, Anton was fond of technology, attended various circles and sections, especially loved theatrical art lessons. He graduated with honors from a technical school with a degree in auto mechanics.

Anton has been working in the telecommunications industry for more than 10 years, most recently as a communications engineer. He spends his free time with friends, loves to travel, watch movies and listen to music.

Anton has been familiar with biblical teachings since childhood. "As I approached adulthood, I realized that there was no real meaning in life without God," Anton said, "so I decided to devote my life to him." In 2009, he became one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

The criminal prosecution created difficulties: due to the restrictions imposed, Anton cannot travel to other cities for work, and even more so to visit friends. He worries about how what is happening will affect his loved ones.

Case History

In May 2022, security forces detained communications engineer Anton Kokovin on the main street of Yaroslavl. After a search at his place of residence and in the apartment where he was visiting, the believer was interrogated. They took a written undertaking not to leave the place. A criminal case was opened on suspicion of participation in extremist activities, which is how the investigator of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation regarded participation in peaceful worship services via video link. As it turned out, since March 2019, the investigation has been making audio recordings of Jehovah’s Witnesses services. In May 2023, the case went to court.