Name: Markov Vladislav Vladimirovich
Date of Birth: September 1, 1983
Current status: defendant
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2), 282.2 (1.1)
Time spent in prison: 2 day in a temporary detention facility

Biography

After searches in Nikolaevsk-on-Amur in October 2021, a peaceful believer Vladislav Markov learned that a criminal case was initiated against him under an extremist article.

Vladislav was born in Nikolaevsk-on-Amur in September 1983. He has 4 brothers and a sister. For some time he studied to be a bricklayer-stove-maker, and later received the profession of an electrician. Vladislav worked at the shipbuilding plant in Nikolaevsk-on-Amur, most recently as a boiler operator.

Already in childhood, Vladislav was interested in spiritual issues: what is the meaning of life? what happens to a person after death? Having met Jehovah's Witnesses, Vladislav received answers to his questions from the Bible and in August 2005 he embarked on the Christian path.

Vladislav married Yana in 2009. They met through a common outlook on life. The spouses like to watch tennis together and relax in nature. Vladislav is also interested in computers, likes to drive and rides a bicycle.

The criminal prosecution caused additional stress and anxiety for the family. Due to the restrictions imposed by the court, Vladislav had difficulties with his work. Relatives of the believer, who do not share his religious convictions, consider everything that happens to be absurd.

Case History

In October 2021, in Nikolayevsk-on-Amur, security forces searched the homes of peaceful Jehovah’s Witnesses, who were charged with extremism only because of practising their religion. Igor Kletkin and Vladislav Markov spent 2 days in a temporary detention facility. The investigator initiated a criminal case against them, as well as against Nadezhda Korobochko, for participating in the activity of an extremist organization. The indictment was based on information gathered from surveillance, covert audio recordings of believers’ conversations, conflicting testimony from a secret witness, and falsified testimony from other witnesses. The case went to court in December 2022. In July 2024, the court gave Kononenko, Kletkin and Korobochko suspended sentences: the men received 6 years each, Nadezhda Korobochko — 5 years.