Beltikov Maksim

Name: Beltikov Maksim Nikolayevich
Date of Birth: October 9, 1980
Current status: who has served the main sentence
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2)
Time spent in prison: 245 day in a pre-trial detention, 362 day in prison
Sentence: punishment in the form of 2 years of imprisonment with serving a sentence in a correctional colony of general regime with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to the organization and participation in public associations, groups for 3 years and with restriction of liberty for 1 year

Biography

The quiet life of the large family of Maksim Beltikov from the Krasnodar Territory changed overnight when they were searched in April 2020. Two months later, a criminal case was opened against the believer and he was ordered not to leave the place. In January 2022, a peaceful family man was sentenced to 2 years in prison just because of his faith, he was taken into custody in the courtroom. In September 2023, Beltikov was released, having served his term in full.

Maksim was born in October 1980 in Baltiysk (Kaliningrad region). Mother worked all her life at the bakery, received the title of "veteran of labor".

As a child, Maksim was fond of folk music, played in the orchestra of folk instruments. He loved to pick mushrooms and fish. He lived in different cities: Baltiysk, Klaipeda (Lithuania), Liepaja (Latvia), and in 1993 he moved to the village of Pavlovskaya to take care of his sick grandfather.

Maksim began to work early, already while studying in the senior classes of the evening school. At the same time, he received two professions—a driver of categories B and C and a bricklayer. From the age of 22 he worked as a driver, but after an eye injury he moved to the position of a labor protection specialist. In his free time, he likes to make wooden crafts with his own hands, he is fond of gardening.

Maksim became interested in Bible teachings in his youth when his cousin told him about God. He was impressed to learn that God has a personal name, Jehovah. He was also struck by the fact that all the prophecies recorded in the Bible are fulfilled, and the advice from it is applicable in life. Love for God and deep respect for this ancient book prompted him to become a Christian.

Maksim has known his wife Mariya since childhood. They got married in May 2005. Mariya works in the field of social protection of the population, helps older people not to feel lonely. She loves to rearrange and repair the house. There are three sons in the family. When time and money permit, the Beltikovs travel with pleasure.

The criminal prosecution, because of which the whole family experienced stress, affected both Maksim's health and the well-being of his mother. Despite the difficulties, she helped Mariya take care of the children. Relatives and friends tried to support Maksim and came to every court hearing.

Speaking in court with the last plea, Maksim said: "I am ashamed of the experts who are inattentive when studying documents on which human freedom depends. It is also very embarrassing and painful to see that the prosecution did not find anything better than to invite my own friends as witnesses against me."

Case History

Maksim Beltikov, a labor protection specialist, an exemplary family man, father of three children, was accused of extremism. In April 2020, the believer’s home was searched, and in June, FSB investigator Lieutenant M. Loi opened a criminal case against the man on suspicion of participating in the activities of an extremist organization. The investigation considered that the believer, “aware of the criminal nature and public danger of his actions,” exercised “the role of a preacher.” Maksim was placed on recognizance not to leave. In January 2021, the trial began. During the proceedings, it was revealed that the transcript of Beltikov’s conversation with the main prosecution witness Ilchenko was falsified. In January 2022, the court found Beltikov guilty and sentenced him to 2 years in a general regime colony with restriction of freedom for 1 year. The appellate court upheld the verdict. In August 2023, the court extended the restriction of liberty for another 3 years.
Timeline
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