Biography
Zakhar Vakarev was born in August 2002 in the small Siberian town of Uyar (Krasnoyarsk Territory) into a family of doctors. During his school years, he played volleyball and took part in sports events. He was also interested in computers and information technology. This interest influenced his choice of work: after finishing school, he trained as a programmer and found a job in that field. In his free time, Zakhar enjoys enduro motorcycling.
Zakhar’s parents played an important role in shaping his views — from childhood they discussed Bible accounts with him. Over time, Zakhar became convinced that Bible principles help him make wise decisions in life. In 2019, he was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The Vakarev family’s usual way of life was disrupted in February 2026, when father and son became defendants in a criminal case because of their faith.
Case History
In October 2025, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation initiated a criminal case against residents of the Uyarskiy and Rybinskiy districts of Krasnoyarsk Territory. The investigation interpreted peaceful meetings for worship as organizing the activity of an extremist organization, participating in it, and involving others in it. Searches were conducted in the homes of the believers. Viktor Kononov and Aflatun Safarov were placed in custody; two elderly women—Amaliya Malchugova and Tatyana Barakhtenko—were required to sign a recognizance agreement. In February 2026, Sergey Soroka, Aleksandr Murlin, and Ivan Starikov were placed in a pretrial detention center. On the same day, Aleksandr and Zakhar Vakarev were detained at a Moscow airport and subsequently required to sign a recognizance agreement. All the believers held in custody were later transferred to house arrest, and then to a ban on certain actions.
