Biography
The family of Ivan Shulyuk, a native of a small Siberian town, has been facing repression for faith for several generations. In the 1940s, his grandfather was thrown into prison for refusing to take up arms. He never returned from there. Ivan's grandmother was exiled to Siberia in 1951 only for faith in God Jehovah. Their grandson, a peaceful Christian, was also declared an extremist on the same grounds.
Ivan Shulyuk was born in September 1976 in Nazarovo (Krasnoyarsk region), where he lived all his life. He has two older brothers. His parents are no longer alive. Since childhood, Ivan was aactive and curious: he was fond of fishing and working with radio equipment, read travel magazines, went skiing, lived running and playing hockey.
After school, Ivan graduated from the Nazarovo Power Engineering Technical School. Having trained as a mechanic of transport, construction, road machinery and equipment, he worked for over 20 years as an apartment building maintenance technician. For his work, he received letters of gratitude and certificates.
Even in his youth Ivan became convinced of the authenticity of biblical prophecies and at 18 years of age consciously took the Christian path. He realized that service to God brings him real joy in life.
In 2002, Ivan married Yuliya, a secondary‑school German teacher. Later, she completed professional retraining and now works as a counseling psychologist. She shares her husband's religious beliefs.
Yuliya enjoys playing the piano, learning foreign languages, reading popular science literature, exercising, and growing flowers. Ivan is interested in local history and numismatics. He also likes spending time in nature, gathering mushrooms, and fishing. The couple enjoys traveling and spending time with friends.
The Shulyuk family's usual way of life was disrupted in June 2020, when an armed law‑enforcement unit burst into their apartment. Ivan was detained and placed in a pre‑trial detention center for a month.
The couple's relatives, their neighbors, and acquaintances—including those who do not share their religious beliefs—were shocked by what happened. The stress took a toll on the already fragile health of Yuliya's mother and grandmother.