Updated: March 18, 2024
Name: Zhukov Timofey Viktorovich
Date of Birth: May 19, 1979
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1), 282.3 (1)
Time spent in prison: 59 day in a pre-trial detention
Current restrictions: Prohibition of certain actions
Sentence: punishment in the form of 7 years of imprisonment, with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to leadership and participation in the work of public organizations for a period of 3 years, with restriction of liberty for a period of 1 year, punishment in the form of imprisonment shall be considered suspended with a probationary period of 4 years

Biography

On February 15, 2019, one of the largest and most brutal operations against believers took place in Surgut and several other cities of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. Seven people were tortured, three were sent to a pre-trial detention center (two of them spent 56 days behind bars), and the total number of defendants in criminal cases exceeded 20. One of them is Timofey Zhukov. What is known about him?

Timofey was born in 1979 in the city of Revda (Sverdlovsk region). When the boy was three years old, due to a difficult situation in the family, his mother was forced to take her son and move to Surgut. Timothy is the eldest of four brothers in the family. As a child, he was fond of chess, choreography, dance plasticity, as well as martial arts.

Timofey graduated with a degree in jurisprudence, then, after graduating from graduate school, he worked as an assistant prosecutor in the Surgut City Prosecutor's Office and as a leading legal adviser in some large institutions of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. In 2003, he married Natalia, who also works in the field of jurisprudence. In his spare time, he likes to play football, volleyball, skiing and traveling.

Timothy always respected Scripture and wanted to live as Jesus Christ taught. When he was 28 years old, he consciously embarked on the path of a Christian. A few years later, he was joined in this by his wife, who was deeply touched by the love and unity that reigns among their fellow believers.

Timofey's mother is shocked by what is happening and claims that the persecution of her son is a ridiculous mistake of law enforcement agencies. My wife's sister is perplexed by what is happening and is very surprised that in our time you can be behind bars because of your faith.

Case History

In February 2019, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against 18 men and 1 woman from Surgut (among them was a man mistaken for a Jehovah’s Witness). Their homes were searched. During the interrogations, 7 believers were subjected to violence. Artur Severinchik was sent to a pre-trial detention center for 29 days, and Yevgeny Fedin and Sergey Loginov - for 56. Timofey Zhukov was illegally placed in a psychiatric hospital for 14 days. Believers complained about the use of torture to the Investigative Committee, the ECHR and the Commissioner for Human Rights, a press conference was held with the participation of human rights defenders, but none of the security forces was ever brought to justice. In October 2021, the case materials were submitted to the court. The prosecutor requested imprisonment for the defendants for a term of 3 years and 3 months to 8.5 years in prison, and for Loginov - 9.5 years, which was the most severe request for punishment for believing in Jehovah God in modern Russia.