Updated: March 28, 2024
Name: Shulyuk Ivan Mikhailovich
Date of Birth: September 8, 1976
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)
Time spent in prison: 1 day in a temporary detention facility, 26 day in a pre-trial detention
Current restrictions: Suspended sentence
Sentence: punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of 7 years with deprivation of the right to engage in organizational activities in public or religious associations, public or religious organizations for a term of 7 years, with restriction of liberty for a term of 1 year 6 months, a sentence of imprisonment shall be considered suspended with a probationary period of 4 years

Biography

The family of Ivan Shulyuk, a native of a small Siberian town, has been facing repression for faith for several generations. In the 1940s, his grandfather was thrown into prison for refusing to take up arms. He never returned from there. Ivan's grandmother was exiled to Siberia in 1951 only for faith in God Jehovah. Now in modern Russia their grandson has to prove that he is a peaceful Christian, not an extremist.

Ivan Shulyuk was born in September 1976 in Nazarovo (Krasnoyarsk region), where he lived all his life. He has two older brothers. His parents are no longer alive. Since childhood, Vanya was mobile and curious: he was fishing, fond of radio equipment, read travel magazines, went skiing, liked to run and play hockey.

After school, Ivan graduated from the Nazarov Power Engineering Technical School. Having trained as a mechanic of transport, construction, road machinery and equipment, he worked for over 20 years as a locksmith for apartment buildings. For his work, he received letters of gratitude and certificates.

Even in his youth Ivan became convinced of the authenticity of biblical prophecies and at 18 years of age consciously took the Christian path. He realized that real joy in life brings him service to God.

In 2002, Ivan married Julia, a teacher of German at an elementary school that shared his religious beliefs. Now Julia is a housewife. She loves playing the piano, learning foreign languages, reading popular scientific literature, doing physical exercises and growing flowers. Ivan in his spare time is fond of local lore and numismatics. He also likes to go outdoors, pick mushrooms and fish. Spouses are happy to travel and spend time with friends.

In June 2020, the usual way of life of the Shulyuk family was violated: their apartment was invaded by an armed detachment of law enforcement officers. When Ivan was detained and placed in the pre-trial detention center for a month, Julia was very worried about him, which seriously affected her physical and emotional condition.

The relatives of the spouses, their neighbors and acquaintances, including those who do not share their religious views, were shocked by what had happened. Stress undermines the already poor health of her mother and grandmother Julia. Close ones hope Ivan will be cleared of all charges and his good name restored.

Case History

Ivan Shulyuk’s grandparents were subjected to repression for their faith in the 1940s and 1950s. In 2020, their grandson, a peaceful believer from Nazarov, faced the same persecution. In June, Ivan ended up in a temporary detention center after a rash of searches in his city. The Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case against him, on suspicion of organizing the activities of an extremist organization, solely because of his religion. Shulyuk spent about a month in custody, then he was released under a recognizance agreement. In August 2021, the case went to trial. The case materials contained expert opinions confirming that the faith of Jehovah’s Witnesses is not prohibited and there are no signs of extremism in the materials examined. In May 2023, the City Court of the Krasnoyarsk Territory sentenced the believer to a seven year suspended sentence. An appeal court upheld the decision in September.