Updated: March 28, 2024
Name: Kim Yuriy Aleksandrovich
Date of Birth: September 21, 1960
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)
Died while under investigation

Biography

In October 2020, a criminal case was opened against Yuriy Kim. A search was carried out, after which the health of the believer was severely shaken. The necessary medical care was not provided in time, and he died on October 30, 2020.

Yuriy was born in 1960 in Amursk (Khabarovsk region). In his youth, he was fond of sports. After school he got a profession of a glass maker. For some time he worked by profession, as well as in the foundry department of the Amur Metallurgical Plant, then as a tiler and tinsmith for car repair. After the accident, as a result of which he lost his leg and partially his fingers, he moved to his mother's house in Nikolsk (Penza region). Yuriy found the strength to adapt to the new circumstances and was able to take care not only of himself, but also of his old mother until her death in 2001.

Yuriy’s elder half-sister had a good, warm relationship with him although she did not share his beliefs. His own sister Tatyana told him about the biblical hope for eternal life, which affected him very much. After getting acquainted with Jehovah's Witnesses, Yuriy was impressed that they try to live in harmony with the biblical teachings. All this prompted him to radically change his lifestyle and become a Christian.

In 2001, Yuriy married Vera. They were united by their love for the Bible. Vera became a Christian, having felt the sincere care of believers and appreciated the logicality and clarity of the biblical teachings. She worked as a painter in a glass factory. She is fond of reading, poetry and knitting. Together with her husband, she loved to do healthy walking.

After retirement, Yuriy Kim worked as a shoe repair master. To support his health, he was engaged in gymnastics and cold showers. In his spare time he was fond of electronics and playing chess.

Yuriy's death after a long stress on the background of criminal prosecution was a terrible blow to his wife and relatives.

Case History

In October 2020, a criminal case was initiated against Yuriy Kim and unidentified persons for believing in God. Armed security forces raided 4 apartments of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the city of Nikolsk, Penza region. To familiarize himself with the materials on the search, 60-year-old Yuri Kim had to travel 120 kilometers from home. Upon his return, he was paralyzed and lost consciousness. The ambulance doctors did not have time to save him. In September 2021, Maya and Petr Krupnov were charged with participating in extremist activities. It was based on an audio recording made by an FSB agent. A month later, hearings began in the Nikolsky District Court under the chairmanship of Judge Irina Kuznetsova. Many witnesses claimed that their preliminary testimony had been falsified. In December 2021, the court sentenced the spouses to 2 years probation and 8 months of restriction of freedom and ordered them to pay 42,000 rubles in legal costs. The appellate court upheld this decision.