DECEMBER 27, 2023 | UPDATED: MARCH 6, 2024
RUSSIA

UPDATE—BROTHERS IMPRISONED | Brothers Maintain Positive Outlook Despite Extended Detention and House Arrest

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On March 5, 2024, the Oktyabrskiy District Court of Irkutsk convicted Brothers Nikolay Martynov, Sergey Kosteyev, Yaroslav Kalin, Mikhail Moysh, Igor Popov, Denis Sarazhakov, Aleksey Solnechniy, Andrey Tolmachev, and Sergey Vasiliyev. Nikolay, Sergey Kosteyev, Yaroslav, Mikhail, Aleksey, and Andrey were each sentenced to seven years in prison. Igor and Denis were each sentenced to six years and four months in prison. Sergey Vasiliyev was sentenced to three years in prison and was taken into custody from the courtroom. The other brothers have been in pretrial detention and will remain in custody.

Profiles

Nikolay Martynov

Born: 1958 (Bandarka, Irkutsk Region)

Biography: Worked as a chauffeur

Married Irina in 1982. They have two children

Irina began studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1997. The fulfillment of Bible prophecies convinced Nikolay of the truth. Both were baptized in 1998

Personal Comments From Nikolay’s Wife, Irina a

What is helping your husband to maintain a positive outlook despite being in pretrial detention for over two years?

Nikolay has maintained his good routine of reading and meditating on the Bible, and he often mentions how Jehovah is readily answering his prayers. But being separated from us has been very difficult. Nikolay is a wonderful family head. Not being able to provide for us in the way he did in the past has been hard on him. However, when we tell him how Jehovah is taking care of us through our brothers and sisters, it gives him great peace of mind. He also says that envisioning our whole family together in the new world is helping him. He has already planned out in his mind how he is going to build our future home and what kind of fruit trees he wants to plant.

Yaroslav Kalin

Born: 1969 (Pivovarikha, Irkutsk Region)

Biography: Raised in a family of Jehovah’s Witnesses. His parents and grandparents were exiled to Siberia in 1951

Worked as a television and radio repair technician

Baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1987

Married Tatyana in 1991. They had two sons and two daughters. Their youngest son passed away in 2007

Personal Comments From Yaroslav’s Wife, Tatyana b

What challenges is your husband facing in pretrial detention, and what is helping him to endure?

Yaroslav has spent over two years in solitary confinement, which has been very difficult for him. He is a very sociable person. Being alone has put a lot of pressure on him emotionally and physically. But he does not give up or give in to self-pity. In his letters, he often quotes Colossians 1:11, where it says: “And may you be strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may endure fully with patience and joy.” He is determined to keep his integrity and trust in Jehovah. I know Yaroslav sees the value and the necessity of continuing to do Jehovah’s will now and forever.

Mikhail Moysh

Born: 1987 (Ukraine)

Biography: Worked in construction and sales

Married Yelena in 2009. They have two sons

Yelena was baptized in 2010. Mikhail began to attend meetings with her. He was baptized in 2016

Personal Comments From Mikhail’s Wife, Yelena c

How has Mikhail continued to care for you and your sons spiritually despite being in pretrial detention for over two years?

Our oldest son is 12 years old. Our youngest is now two-and-a-half years old and was only six months old when Mikhail was arrested and taken to the pretrial detention center. He especially does not understand why his father is not at home. Both children miss him very much. But Mikhail writes to them often—sending poems, teaching them about animals and birds, making them crossword puzzles, and even giving them small research assignments. He also helps me when I struggle with negative thoughts. There was a time when I was asking: ‘Why us? Why did this happen to our family?’ In one of his letters, Mikhail reassured me that my questions were not necessarily a sign of spiritual weakness. He wrote: “What matters most is what we do with those feelings. If, like Job, we allow Jehovah to correct our thinking, he will help us regain our spiritual balance and keep the right perspective.” That letter really strengthened me.

Igor Popov

Born: 1987 (Kazakhstan)

Biography: One of eight children. His father passed away when Igor was 11 years old

Worked as an interior finisher and a plumber

After his father passed away, Igor’s mother and older brother began to study the Bible. Igor joined them and especially appreciated learning about the resurrection. Igor was baptized in 2006 along with seven other family members

Married Mangira in 2013

Personal Comments From Igor’s Wife, Mangira d

What Bible verse has helped you and your husband to deal with these difficult circumstances?

Igor had to spend a long time in solitary confinement. In one of his letters, he mentioned Psalm 118:5, where it says: “I called on Jah in my distress; Jah answered and brought me into a place of safety.” Igor wrote: “That place of safety could also be translated as ‘a roomy place.’ When we feel cramped or held hostage by negative feelings, Jehovah can answer our prayers and figuratively set us free, giving us peace of mind and heart.” Through this whole experience, we have been reminded constantly that Jehovah will always find an opportunity to support us and will never abandon us no matter where we are.

Denis Sarazhakov

Born: 1988 (Sayanogorsk, Republic of Khakassia)

Biography: Worked in advertising

Raised as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Parents cultivated in him appreciation for spiritual things. Became convinced of the benefits of living by Bible principles. Baptized in 2004

Married Olesiya in 2007

Personal Comments From Denis’ Wife, Olesiya e

How has Denis been able to encourage you?

Denis and I mostly communicate through letters. We are allowed to speak on the phone once a week for about five minutes. I am also permitted to visit him in person for one hour twice a month. We talk using telephones with a glass wall between us. Each time we speak, Denis shares a spiritual thought with me. And he reminds me that we should not view ourselves as unfortunate victims. We have good reason to feel joy in what we are accomplishing. This difficult situation has not broken us. We are actually stronger because of it.

Aleksey Solnechniy

Born: 1976 (Abakan, Krasnoyarsk Territory)

Biography: Worked as an electrician

His mother and younger sister began to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses while Aleksey was serving in the army. Upon his return, became interested in the Bible and began to study. Baptized in 2004

Married Alyona in 2011

Personal Comments From Aleksey’s Wife, Alyona f

What helps your husband to maintain a positive attitude while he is in detention?

Aleksey prays constantly to remember that Jehovah is proud of him. He also tries to keep in mind that the officers and court officials are merely doing their job. This has helped him to focus more on the honor he has to defend Jehovah’s name than on himself and the difficulties of the situation. Although he misses me, his family, and his friends, Aleksey stays positive and has even maintained his good sense of humor.

Although temporarily separated from their families, we are confident that nothing can separate our dear brothers from God’s love as they faithfully endure.—Romans 8:35-39.

Time Line

October 4, 2021

Homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses searched in the Irkutsk Region. Criminal case initiated against Nikolay, Sergey Kosteyev, Yaroslav, Mikhail, Aleksey, Andrey, and Sergey Vasiliyev. All seven brothers detained
October 5, 2021

Yaroslav, Mikhail, and Aleksey transferred to a pretrial detention center
October 6, 2021

Sergey Kosteyev, Nikolay, and Andrey transferred to a pretrial detention center. Sergey Vasiliyev released from temporary detention and placed under house arrest
November 30, 2021

More homes searched. Denis and Igor arrested and taken to Irkutsk, over 1500 kilometers (932 mi) away
December 1, 2021

Igor placed in a pretrial detention center
December 2, 2021

Denis placed in a pretrial detention center
December 29, 2022

Criminal trial began

a b c d e f Since Brothers Martynov, Kalin, Moysh, Popov, Sarazhakov, and Solnechniy were in pretrial detention, it was not possible to conduct interviews with them.

Jehovah’s Witnesses

UPDATE—BROTHERS IMPRISONED | Brothers Maintain Positive Outlook Despite Extended Detention and House Arrest

Profiles

Time Line

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