Name: Sazhin Aleksandr Anatoliyevich
Date of Birth: August 20, 1971
Current status: defendant
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2)
Current restrictions: recognizance agreement

Biography

Aleksandr Sazhin from the town of Fokino which is a small, picturesque town in Primorye, was subjected to criminal prosecution for his belief in Jehovah God.

Aleksandr was born in August 1971 in the village of Tikhookeanskoye (now Fokino). He has a sister. Their parents were members of the Communist Party,  their mother worked in the party accounting of the rear of the Pacific Fleet, and father served as a captain on hydrographic ships for more than forty five years.

As a child, Aleksandr loved to explore the coastline of Peter the Great Bay with his friends and, like his father, dreamed of working at sea. After serving in the army, he graduated from the Far East Naval School with a degree in navigation and worked on fishing vessels for fourteen years. Over time, he became the captain of the ship and realized his dream.

Aleksandr has been married for over thirty years. Together with his wife, they raised a daughter, who now lives in St. Petersburg.

On one of his voyages, Aleksandr read a book that explored the arguments for creation. He recalls: “Reading and observing the beauty of the creations that surround me on all sides in the open spaces of the sea, I became convinced of the existence of a loving Creator.” The fact that the Bible provides an explanation for the events taking place in the world, and the advice from this book is beneficial, prompted Aleksandr in 2008 to become a Christian.

Thanks to his newfound faith, he decided to spend more time with his family and began working as a boatswain on a hydrographic raid boat, later he worked as a taxi driver and a technician in communication salons. Aleksandr loves outdoor activities: he goes hiking on the islands and conquers the seaside hills. Lately he has been writing prose and poetry.

The stress caused by the search affected the health of Aleksandr’s wife. Relatives and colleagues are perplexed why such a law-abiding and gentle person was considered an extremist.

Case History

In April 2023, Aleksandr Sazhin from the city of Fokino became a suspect in a criminal case. On the same day, the security forces searched Aleksandr’s house where he lives with his wife and in their garage. During the search, the believer’s wife became ill. The man was interrogated, charged with participating in the activities of an extremist organization and signed a recognizance agreement. The investigation considered the peaceful confession of faith to be undermining the constitutional order and promoting religious exclusivity. In April 2024, the case went to court.