Serebryakov Aleksandr

This person is also involved in another criminal case as well:
The case of Serebryakov in Moscow
Name: Serebryakov Aleksandr Georgiyevich
Date of Birth: April 13, 1977
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)
Time spent in prison: 2 day in a temporary detention facility, 542 day in a pre-trial detention
Sentence: punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of 6 years, with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to leadership and participation in the work of public religious organizations for a term of 2 years, with restriction of liberty for a term of 1 year, a sentence of imprisonment shall be considered conditional, with a probationary period of 4 years
Currently held in: Detention Center No. 5 in Moscow
Address for correspondence: Serebryakov Aleksandr Georgiyevich, born 1977, SIZO No. 5 «Vodnik» in Moscow, ul. Vyborgskaya, 20, Russia, 125130

Letters of support can be sent by regular mail or through the «FSIN-letter system». To pay for service with the card of a foreign bank use Prisonmail.

Note: discussing topics related to criminal prosecution is not allowed in letters; languages other than Russian will not pass.

Biography

The close-knit Serebryakov family was twice separated by criminal prosecution because of their beliefs. In February 2021, security forces broke into the couple's apartment. After the search, Aleksandr was arrested, and in August 2022, the court sentenced him to 6 years probation for believing in Jehovah God. A little over a year later, law enforcement officers again came to the spouses with a search. Aleksandr was placed in a pre-trial detention center, and the investigation brought new charges against him, this time of financing the activities of an extremist organization.

Alexander was born in April 1977 in the city of Chekhov (Moscow region). Dad served as a military ensign. He died when Alexander was 15 years old. Mom worked in the military registration and enlistment office, and is now retired. The family raised three sons, of whom Alexander was the youngest. The middle one died in 2014.

In kindergarten and school, Alexander participated in art and sports programs, and not a single holiday took place without him. He also played for the Czechs in the hockey team.

Since Alexander's parents were in the military, the family moved a lot. They lived first on the territory of Ukraine, then moved to Kazakhstan and then to Chekhov near Moscow.

After graduating from the first year of the Faculty of Law of the State University of Land Management, Alexander left his studies and got a job as a carpenter, then as a security guard.

The family learned about the Bible and Jehovah's Witnesses from their middle son. Watching the believers, Alexander saw their love for each other and he wanted to be among these people. In 1996, he decided to dedicate his life to God, and a year later his mother joined him.

In 2006, Alexander got married. Wife Irina shares her husband's religious views. At one time, she was touched by the fact that God promises to change the world for the better and he shares his plan with people through the Bible. Irina loves animals. She enjoys sewing and making e-cards for friends.

Alexander is interested in construction technologies and interior design of residential buildings. In his free time, he plays football and volleyball with his friends, walks in the forest. Alexander is known as a friendly, sympathetic person, always ready to help.

For the spouses, separation from each other was a great test. Irina says: "There is no way to see a dear, beloved, closest person on earth! We can't communicate, do things that we used to do together, and support each other in difficulties. If it weren't for true friends, I wouldn't even have the means to live on." In addition, Irina's mother and her husband also faced criminal prosecution and were found guilty by the court because of their faith in Jehovah.

Case History

Since 2019, believers in Moscow have been under surveillance. In February 2021, officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the FSB and the National Guard broke into 16 apartments of Jehovah’s Witnesses from Moscow and the Moscow Region. Some reported beatings and money going missing during the search. Alexandr Serebryakov and Yuriy Temirbulatov were put in detention, although Alexandr was taking care of his elderly disabled mother, and Yuriy, the father of three children, suffers from various illnesses and has a dependent mother-in-law who is disabled. While behind bars, Alexandr was seriously ill with COVID-19, and Yuriy underwent a serious operation (he had developed an oncological disease). The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation considered the reading of the Bible and the singing of religious songs as organizing the activity of an extremist organization. The case went to court in January 2022. In August 2022, the believers were given a 6 year suspended sentence, and in November 2022, the Appeal Court upheld this sentence.
Timeline
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