Biography
A law-abiding family man from Omsk, Sergey Rygaev, was placed in a pretrial detention center in the spring of 2024. He was charged with extremism solely because of his faith. The court sentenced him to compulsory labor, but soon the court of appeal sent the believer to a penal colony for 6 years.
Sergey was born in 1971 in the village of Nizhnekundryuchenskaya, Rostov Region. He has an elder sister. In 1972, the family moved to Kurgan.
In his youth, Sergey was engaged in classical wrestling and motocross. After school, in Kurgan, he graduated from a construction college and later mastered the skills of a roofer and other construction professions. But for most of his life until his arrest, he worked as a tinsmith.
Sergey began to reflect on the meaning of life and justice in society when he returned from the army. Soon he met Jehovah's Witnesses, began to study the Bible, and believed in God. In 1993, the man decided to take the Christian path.
In 1995, Sergey married Oksana. She shares his religious views. The couple has an adult son. He graduated from school with honors and, like his father, works as a tinsmith. In his spare time, he studies English and Tatar languages, masters programming. In 2006, the family moved to live in Omsk.
Sergey loves fishing, and he is also an avid mushroom picker. He likes to run, ride a bike, and go to the bathhouse. Oksana loves to read, play musical instruments, and is also fond of volleyball. Together, the couple arrange evenings with friends—sing, dance, and participate in competitions. The family also loves to be in nature.
The stress of the search and arrest of her husband had a negative impact on Oksana's health. She also lost the opportunity to teach mathematics online, as electronic devices were confiscated. During the years of marriage, the couple were almost never separated for more than a couple of weeks, and after their arrest they were forbidden to see and call each other.
Sergey's relatives, friends, colleagues, and neighbors do not understand why he is being persecuted. They know him as a conflict-free, compliant person, an exemplary worker.