Biography
Aleksandr Podkaura was born in November 1981 in Tokmak, Chuy Region, Kirghiz SSR. He has a twin brother who was born thirty minutes earlier. When the boys were 2 years old, the family moved to Vladivostok. Aleksandr's mother worked as an accountant. His father served as a chief mate and later headed a radio station on research vessels.
As a child, Aleksandr was interested in martial arts. During his student years, he earned and confirmed the second chess category and participated in competitive ballroom dancing.
After completing nine grades, he entered the Far Eastern State College. In 2002, he graduated as a construction technician and industrial training instructor. Over the years, he worked as a welder, installer, bricklayer, and carpenter. For about 7 years he specialized in glazing, installing stained-glass windows, and performing façade work at height. Most recently, he worked as a building and facility maintenance specialist at the Regional Clinical Hospital.
Aleksandr's main hobby is mountain trekking. For climbing 10 peaks, he was awarded the "Primorye Snow Leopard" badge of honor and a certificate from the local sports tourism federation. "I 'infected' the doctors from my institution; now they go hiking in the mountains both with and without me to complete the program of 10 peaks and receive the badge of honor," Aleksandr said. In 2026, he climbed Mount Kazbek, reaching an altitude of nearly 5,000 meters.
Aleksandr was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in May 2003. "What convinced me of the truth of the Bible's teachings was the impeccable, almost angelic behavior of the young women who were studying the Bible with my aunt, and the logical explanation of the loving personality of our Creator," he shared, adding: "I was especially touched by the hope of the resurrection for loved ones who have died."
In July 2026, Aleksandr's home was searched. At that time, he learned that he had become a defendant in a criminal case for extremism because of his religious beliefs. His family is very concerned about him and tries to support him in every way.