Chernyshev Yuriy

Updated: April 19, 2024
Name: Chernyshev Yuriy Yevgeniyevich
Date of Birth: August 30, 1963
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)
Time spent in prison: 3 day in a temporary detention facility, 376 day in a pre-trial detention, 896 day Under house arrest, 9 day in prison
Current restrictions: Detention center
Sentence: punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of 6 years 3 months with serving a sentence in a correctional colony of general regime, with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to leadership and participation in the work of public organizations for a period of 3 years, with restriction of liberty for a period of 1 year
Currently held in: Detention Center No. 4 in Moscow
Address for correspondence: Chernyshev Yuriy Yevgeniyevich, born 1963, SIZO No. 4 «Medved» in Moscow, ul. Vilyuiskaya, 4, Moscow, Russia, 127081

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Biography

Insults, harsh treatment and threats to send their underage daughter to an orphanage — that’s what the Chernyshevs from Moscow had to face when the security forces broke into the house of believers in the early November morning. Filming of the detention of "especially dangerous criminals" with breaking the door and window was broadcast on television and on the Internet.

Yuriy Chernyshev (pronounced as "Cherny'shyov")is a native of Moscow. He was born in 1963. As a child, he was engaged in competetive swimming. After school he studied at the Kuibyshev Moscow Civil Engineering Institute at the Faculty of Industrial and Civil Engineering. Throughout his career, he worked as a civil engineer.

Yuri's mother, who is no longer alive, was a believer and from childhood instilled in her son a love for God and the Bible. In August 1989, he met his future wife, Catherine. The young people simultaneously began to study the Bible and one day they decided to take the Christian path. The study of the Holy Scriptures helped Yuri to be convinced of God's love, compassion and care for people and for him personally. Once he was greatly impressed by the kindness and hospitality of people who try to live according to the biblical commandments, and this later prompted Yuri to do the same.

In 1996, Yuriy and Yekaterina got married. Today they are raising a teenage daughter. Yekaterina runs a household and enjoys decoupage. The Chernyshevs love to spend time with the whole family, visiting various attractions, parks and exhibitions, traveling and learning the history of other countries.

In 2014, the head of the family was diagnosed with serious problems with the spine. They caused complications. Yuriy understood that due to his illness, he would eventually not be able to work fully, so the family decided to save money in advance. During the search, all the money that they had been saving for many years was seized from the Chernyshevs.

The believer was placed under house arrest and lost the opportunity to work. Because of strong feelings, back problems returned. Yekaterina is forced to live separately, as she is a witness in a criminal case against her husband, and they are forbidden to communicate. Yuri is not allowed to leave the house, so the daughter is engaged in buying food and necessary things. Considering that the child is in school, all this is a serious burden for her.

Case History

In November 2020, a large special operation took place in Moscow—22 searches in the homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Vardan Zakaryan was hospitalized due to injuries inflicted by the law enforcement officers. He, Vitaliy Komarov, Yuriy Chernyshev, Ivan Сhaikovskiy and Sergey Shatalov were placed in the temporary detention facility at 38 Petrovka Street. Four of the believers were accused of organizing the activity of an extremist organization, and Zakaryan was accused of involving others in it. It is noteworthy that in 2010, Сhaikovskiy obtained compensation through the ECHR for the violation of his rights due to the illegal liquidation of the Moscow community of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In the winter of 2022, the case went to court. The charges were based on the testimony of the FSB agent “Makarov”, who feigned interest in the Bible. In March 2023, the court sentenced Сhaikovskiy, Komarov, Chernyshev and Shatalov to 6 years and 3 months in a penal colony; Zakaryan was sentenced to 4 years and 3 months in a penal colony. The court of appeal upheld this decision in April 2024.
Timeline