Updated: March 19, 2024
Name: Nikiforov Vitaliy Sergeyevich
Date of Birth: February 13, 1968
Current status: who has served the main sentence
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2)
Time spent in prison: 1 day in a temporary detention facility, 598 day Under house arrest
Sentence: punishment in the form of imprisonment for 2 years, with restriction of liberty for a period of 6 months, punishment in the form of imprisonment shall be considered conditional with a probationary period for 2 years

Biography

On October 3, 2019, civilians in Chekhov near Moscow faced persecution for their faith: searches were carried out at several addresses, and a criminal case was opened against Vitaliy Nikiforov. On May 24, 2021, the court found the believer guilty and sentenced him to 2 years of suspended imprisonment with a probation period of 2 years.

Vitaliy was born in 1968 in the city of Nevel, Pskov region, in a family of ordinary workers. He has an older and a younger brother. At school, Vitaliy was especially good at exact sciences. He always liked mathematics, participated in school Olympiads. He was also fond of volleyball, received the first adult category in this sport.

After school, Vitaliy entered the Military Aviation Technical School in Kaliningrad, after which he served as an aircraft technician in the Russian Air Force in various regions, including the Arctic Circle. He took part in the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus, has a certificate of a combat veteran.

In 1990, Vitaliy started a family, and a year later the couple had a daughter.

In 2005, when Vitaliy first got acquainted with the Bible, he realized the need for changes in his life. He was determined to become a faithful husband for his wife again, to stop swearing and to overcome alcohol addiction. It was not easy to change, but over time he succeeded.

In 2007, he retired and retired from the army. For some time he lived with his family in Pskov, Smolensk and St. Petersburg, then moved to Chekhov, where they received departmental housing. He got a job as an electronics engineer in neighboring Podolsk. A keen radio and car enthusiast, he also loves fishing.

Case History

The criminal case initiated in September 2019 against Chekhov residents Yuri and Zinaida Krutyakov, Konstantin Zherebtsov and Vitaly Nikiforov was based on the testimony of an FSB officer who pretended to be interested in the Bible. On the night of October 3, 2019, security forces raided the believers’ homes with searches. Zherebtsov, Nikiforov and Krutyakova were placed under house arrest. Later, Yuriy was taken to the pre-trial detention center. There he stayed for 445 days; His eyesight deteriorated sharply. In January 2021, hearings began in the Chekhov City Court of the Moscow Region. The prosecutor requested a suspended sentence of 2 to 6 years for the four defendants. On May 24, Judge Iryna Pantela gave the believers a suspended sentence: Yuriy — 6 years, Zinaida — 2 years and 3 months, Konstantin — 2 years and 2 months, Vitaliy — 2 years. All were also given various probationary periods. On July 20, 2021, the Moscow Regional Court upheld the verdict, and on January 13, 2022, the cassation court did not satisfy the believers’ appeal.