Name: Chesnokov Vladimir Aleksandrovich
Date of Birth: March 21, 1959
Current status: who has served the main sentence
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)
Sentence: penalty in the form of a fine of 400,000 rubles

Biography

In June 2021, a peaceful pensioner from Cheboksary, Vladimir Chesnokov, was accused of organizing extremist activities. The reason was his peaceful religious activity, which was expressed in the discussion of the Bible.

Vladimir was born in March 1959 in the village of Bakhmutovo (Chuvashia). Father worked as a driver, mother — as an accountant. The parents are no longer alive. Vladimir grew up with his older brother Nikolay, who passed away in 2020. As a child, Vladimir was fond of football, volleyball and hockey, participated in school competitions, studied in the acrobatics section. In the evenings he liked to read.

In 1980, after graduating from the Alma-Ata Higher Border Military School named after F. E. Dzerzhinsky Vladimir received the rank of lieutenant. In the same year, he married Nina. Two sons were born in the marriage

Until 1993, Vladimir served in the border troops of Ukraine. During the service, he learned the biblical promise that people "will hammer their swords into plowshares, and their spears into sickles: the people will not raise a sword against the people, and they will no longer learn to fight." This prompted Vladimir to resign from the armed forces. He retired and returned to his native Cheboksary. Bible study helped Vladimir find the meaning of life, and also convinced him of the existence of God. At the end of 1993, he became a Christian.

From 2000 to 2008, Vladimir worked as a stoker. He resigned due to deteriorating health. He tries to be in nature more often. Before the pandemic, he regularly went in for swimming. Recently, I began to study English. Vladimir's wife, Nina, is retired, but still works as a nurse. Spouses love to walk together, cook, work in the country.

The criminal prosecution affected Vladimir's health. Due to stress at night, there is difficulty breathing, an increased heart rate, and exacerbated problems with the spine. The adult children who lived with their parents were also affected by the search: their hard drive was seized, which created difficulties for their work.

Although none of Vladimir's family shares his religious views, they are all discouraged by the persecution of peaceful Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia.

Case History

In November 2020, insurance agent Vladimir Dutkin was searched. Two days earlier, FSB investigator Mukhin opened a criminal case against him under an extremist article, and they took a written undertaking not to leave the place. In June 2021, Valery Yakovlev and Vladimir Chesnokov became new defendants in the case. They were accused of meeting with fellow believers in rented premises, discussing religion and drinking tea. In July 2021, the case went to court. Independent examinations refuted the accusations and found that the believers “called for honesty, restraint, and patience in relation to dissidents.” Six months later, the prosecutor requested from 6 to 6.5 years in prison for believers. In February 2022, the judge sentenced the believers to a fine: Vladimir Dutkin — 500 thousand rubles, the rest — 400 thousand rubles each. In April 2022, this sentence was upheld by the Court of Appeal. In August 2022, the Court of Cassation upheld the verdict and decision of the appellate instance.