Biography
A gardener from Alushta, who raised four children, is being prosecuted for his faith in Jehovah God and for reading the Bible.
Vladimir Chertov was born in October 1972 in Donetsk (Ukrainian SSR). He has a younger sister. As a child, Vladimir liked throwing the javelin, chess and ballroom dancing. During his school years, he mastered the craft of cabinetmaking and later took courses in architecture and arboriculture.
His first job was at the mine where his father worked. After his 2-year military service, Vladimir got a job as a carpenter at a construction site, and then as an inspector-repairman of railway cars. Over time, he qualified further and became the shift supervisor of the railway station.
In the early 1990s, Vladimir became acquainted with Bible teachings through a classmate. He was particularly touched by the prophecy that righteous people would live forever on earth. In 1994, he was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. His mother and sister also studied the Bible.
In 1996, Vladimir married Nelly, who was raising two sons from her first marriage. She shares his religious views. Soon the couple had a son together. Later, they became the guardians of a 1-year-old girl and raised her until she was 17. In her youth, Nelly liked parachuting; now she likes knitting, embroidery and Irish lace.
The whole family often went hiking in Crimea. They noticed that Nelly and the children felt better there, so they moved to Alushta. In his new place, Vladimir got a job as a gardener in a large landscape park and later took care of private gardens and plants until he was forced to resign due to criminal prosecution.
The search in the couple's home took place in the summer of 2025. Nelly experienced severe stress, which caused an asthma attack. Among other things, law enforcement officers seized her medical documents, which made it difficult to obtain the necessary medication and treatment.