Биография

Viktor Fedorovich Trofimov was born in 1957 in the Arkhangelsk Region. In search of work and to care for his family, he moved to the Murmansk Region. In Polyarnyy he worked as a cemetery caretaker for many years; later he worked at a shipyard in Snezhnegorsk as a welder until he was detained.

In 1980 Viktor started a family with Ulyana; they have three children. In 1995 Viktor met Jehovah’s Witnesses, got to know what was in the Bible and saw the clarity and simplicity of God’s requirements for people. None of the members of Viktor’s family share his religious views, yet there is love, mutual respect and support in their family. This was especially important for Viktor and Ulyana when their son died.

Now Viktor Trofimov is already a grandfather; he helps his children to raise the grandchildren. His detention took place in front of his grandchildren on 18 April 2018, when security forces raided the flats of believers in the city of Polyarnyy (Murmansk Region). On that day law enforcement officers detained 13 people, including minors. After believers were interrogated for many hours, the majority were released but two were sent to a detention centre. Viktor was one of them. On 23 April the court put him in pre-trial detention. The investigators accused Mr Trofimov of organising extremist activity under Article 282.2(1) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation; in recent times this article has increasingly been used in Russia to restrict the constitutional rights of believers. Viktor’s family is deeply disturbed by what has occurred and eagerly awaits the return of their husband, father and grandfather.

Viktor’s relatives believe that neither Viktor nor Jehovah’s Witnesses as a whole pose a threat to society. Ulyana joined the wives of detained believers who appealed to the Human Rights Council under the President of the Russian Federation in view of the massive campaign to prosecute upright citizens throughout the country.

Viktor is far from extremist — he is a person who loves life. He likes to relax in nature with his friends; this summer he had plans to go hiking by Lake Ladoga. The arrest ruined these peaceful plans.