Biography
Anatoliy Chepkasov is a fourth-generation Jehovah's Witness. In March 2026, after mass raids in Nizhniy Novgorod, he was taken into custody for reading the Bible with a group of friends.
Anatoliy was born in September 1984 in Dzhambul (now Taraz, Kazakhstan) into a large family. His father worked for many years as a welder, and after the family moved to the Volgograd Region, he worked in construction. His mother kept the household and devoted most of her life to raising the children. Anatoliy has two older sisters and two younger brothers. "I grew up in a big, close-knit family. Mom and Dad taught us to be hardworking, conscientious, and honest—so that we'd be useful members of society and welcoming people. They taught us to love God and love people," Anatoliy recalls.
Because the family lived in a rural area, the children helped their parents grow crops and take care of the household. The Chepkasov family also loved spending time outdoors together. The death of Anatoliy's father in 2009, due to complications from cancer, was a major shock for the whole family.
After finishing school, Anatoliy worked as a taxi driver. Over time he learned construction skills and worked as a finishing-work specialist.
From childhood, Anatoliy loved music and singing, and he was interested in automotive mechanics. He also enjoys sports today: every week he plays volleyball and basketball with friends.
His great-grandfather was the first in the family to become acquainted with Bible teachings. All of Anatoliy's relatives—on both his father's and his mother's side—were believers. "My parents were an example for me," he says. "I saw how Bible principles helped them in life, and I became convinced that the advice in the Bible really works and helps people become better." In 1998, he was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Anatoliy completed alternative civilian service. For a time he lived in Volgograd, and later he moved to Nizhniy Novgorod, where he met his future wife, Venera. They married in 2021. When Venera got acquainted with Jehovah's Witnesses, she was drawn to the fact that believers not only talk about high moral standards, but also live by them.
Because of the persecution of Anatoliy, the landlord asked Venera to vacate the apartment, and she had to urgently look for other housing. All these events caused her significant stress, and her eyesight began to worsen.