Biography
On October 3, 2019, civilians in Chekhov near Moscow faced persecution for their faith: searches were carried out at several addresses, and a criminal case was opened against Vitaliy Nikiforov. On May 24, 2021, the court found the believer guilty and sentenced him to 2 years of suspended imprisonment with a probation period of 2 years.
Vitaliy was born in 1968 in the city of Nevel, Pskov region, in a family of ordinary workers. He has an older and a younger brother. At school, Vitaliy was especially good at exact sciences. He always liked mathematics, participated in school Olympiads. He was also fond of volleyball, received the first adult category in this sport.
After school, Vitaliy entered the Military Aviation Technical School in Kaliningrad, after which he served as an aircraft technician in the Russian Air Force in various regions, including the Arctic Circle. He took part in the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus, has a certificate of a combat veteran.
In 1990, Vitaliy started a family, and a year later the couple had a daughter.
In 2005, when Vitaliy first got acquainted with the Bible, he realized the need for changes in his life. He was determined to become a faithful husband for his wife again, to stop swearing and to overcome alcohol addiction. It was not easy to change, but over time he succeeded.
In 2007, he retired and retired from the army. For some time he lived with his family in Pskov, Smolensk and St. Petersburg, then moved to Chekhov, where they received departmental housing. He got a job as an electronics engineer in neighboring Podolsk. A keen radio and car enthusiast, he also loves fishing.