Biography
In 2021, a criminal case was initiated against Sergey Vasiliyev — a retiree who took part in the construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline. Solely because of his faith in Jehovah God, the believer was sentenced to three years' imprisonment. In July 2024, Vasiliyev was released from the pretrial detention center. Two years later, the believer passed away.
Sergey was born in Irkutsk to a family of musical theater performers. In 1955, his parents placed him in the care of his maternal grandparents. As a child, Sergey had many interests: fishing, hiking, gathering wild edible plants, riding a bicycle, as well as chess, ice skating, skiing, tennis, and judo.
Right after finishing school, Sergey got a job as a steel fixer at a reinforced concrete products plant. Upon returning from military service, where he was a tank crewman, he worked in various occupations: auto mechanic, driver, electrician, slinger, and fur and hide goods clerk. He was given certificates of recognition and letters of appreciation. He worked at a pharmacy for 23 years, retiring in 2018.
Sergey began studying the Bible in 1993. He said of that time: "I had long searched for the meaning of life. When you are young and healthy, you lack both experience and skills at work. Once you gain both, you no longer have strength or health. It is all meaningless. Studying the Bible put everything in its place." Having found the answers to his questions, Sergey became one of Jehovah's Witnesses in 2002.
Having lived in various regions of Russia, as well as in Latvia, Ukraine, Egypt, and Thailand, Sergey returned to his homeland. Among his hobbies were bike rides, rafting, fishing, and walks in the forest.
Sergey was married twice. His first wife passed away in 2008, and his second wife died in 2020. Friends supported the believer and considered the criminal prosecution to be unjust.