Updated: May 3, 2024
Name: Naumenko Sergey Aleksandrovich
Date of Birth: May 19, 1987
Current status: Defendant
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)
Current restrictions: Recognizance agreement

Biography

In his youth, Sergey Naumenko was fascinated by the stories of Christians about faith and endurance. Their stories helped him to defend his right to alternative civilian service at a draft age. Years later, in June 2021, law enforcement officers opened a criminal case against Sergey on an extremist article because of conversations with friends about God and the Bible. The believer was searched, after which he was placed on recognizance not to leave.

Sergey was born in May 1987 in the Krasnodar Territory, the city of Armavir. He has a younger brother. Raising her sons, their mother instilled in them high moral standards. As a child, Sergey went in for sports, participated in running competitions. In his youth, he was carried away by weightlifting and to this day regularly visits the gym.

Sergey spoke with elderly Jehovah's Witnesses who have experienced repression and exile for their beliefs. He admired their strong faith. Therefore, when at the age of 19 he had to appear before the draft board, he justified the Bible's refusal to take up arms because of his peace-loving convictions. Sergey spent 3.5 years in alternative civilian service 1,500 kilometers from home. There he met his future wife Galina, and in 2008 they started a family.

Sergey has always loved to drive, he received the rights of all categories and worked as a driver for some time. He likes to learn new things and master different types of activities. He opened his own small business in the field of disinfection and dry cleaning. Colleagues and acquaintances speak of Sergey as an honest, sociable and ready to help person.

In their free time, the Naumenko spouses read a lot, Sergey's favorite writer is Victor Hugo. Galina is fond of drawing and plays the piano and accordion. The family enjoys traveling together, meeting friends and being outdoors.

Parents and other relatives are very worried about Sergey in connection with his criminal prosecution for believing in Jehovah God. Against the background of stress, they lost sleep for some time and exacerbated chronic diseases.

Case History

In July 2021, the homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses were searched in the cities of Konakovo and Ivanovo. Alexander Starikov, who takes care of his seriously ill father, who is over 90 years old, and Sergey Naumenko were prosecuted. A month earlier, the FSB of Russia in the Tver region opened two criminal cases against believers, accusing them of “organizing the activities of an extremist organization” just for reading the Bible and discussing Christian teachings with residents of the Konakovo district. Starikov and Naumenko were interrogated and released on recognizance not to leave. Later, both criminal cases were merged into one. In June 2023, Aleksandr Shchetinin and Oleg Katamov also became defendants in the case. In October of the same year, it went to court.