Biography
Sergey Lyulin was detained by security forces in August 2021. They pushed him into a minibus and handcuffed him to the handrails on the ceiling of the passenger compartment. They taped his legs to the seat; it was a 16-hour drive to the Simferopol pre-trial detention center. He was subjected to such inhumane treatment because of his peaceful religious beliefs.
Sergey was born in September 1984 in the city of Yalta, Crimea, where he still lives. His parents are retired, and his older brother passed away in 2013.
Sergey has been interested in the Bible since childhood. He says: “From my study of the Holy Scriptures, I learned that only the Creator has the right to establish the standards of good and evil. If you adhere to them, you will experience only happiness and joy. This motivated me to learn more about the Creator and to develop a close relationship with him. Knowledge from the Bible has helped me avoid many mistakes, find satisfaction in life, and strengthen family relationships.” Sergey and his father followed the example of his mother and older brother by getting baptized as Jehovah's Witnesses.
For some time he worked as a carpenter. In 2010 he married Darya, whom he has known since childhood. In recent years, the couple worked together as gardeners. Daria is a florist by profession. She loves to bake, draw, and play active sports. Darya has loved God since early childhood. She was especially touched by the Bible teaching that God accepts people from any nation, regardless of social status, wealth, and appearance.
Since childhood, Sergey has loved active sports: soccer, badminton and volleyball. He and his wife go camping in the forest and mountains and spend time with friends. In addition, Sergey loves to go to the sauna.
Criminal prosecution has dramatically changed the life of this married couple. Stress, worries and unfair treatment has affected the health of the whole family. When Sergey was placed in a pre-trial detention center for 203 days, Darya had to adapt to these new circumstances and alone fulfill the duties that had previously been shouldered by her husband. Sergey's parents, who are elderly, have also been deprived of the opportunity to receive his support.
His relatives do not understand why this peaceful and kind man was sent to jail for more than six years.