Biography
"Everything happened unexpectedly," recalled Albert Pilshchikov, a resident of Naberezhnye Chelny. "The security officers threw me to the ground, handcuffed me, dragged me into a minibus, and began threatening to use physical force." This is how the believer described his arrest in March 2026. A few months later, a court sentenced him to six years in a penal colony.
Albert was born in the village of Starye Savrushi (Tatarstan) into a family of builders. He is the eldest of three sons. Their mother worked as a plasterer-painter, while their father was an installer and mason. From an early age, he taught his sons the value of hard work, training them in construction, household management, and gardening, and instilling in them a love of cleanliness and order. The family often spent time outdoors, going fishing and occasionally staying overnight.
As the children grew up, the family moved several times. They lived for five years in the city of Pervouralsk (Sverdlovsk Region) before returning to Tatarstan. The family then spent 13 years in the working settlement of Kamskiye Polyany, followed by about 10 years in the city of Chistopol.
As a child, Albert was passionate about sports. He enjoyed cross-country skiing, attended a hiking club, went on camping trips, and played soccer. He also took art classes. During school vacations, Albert stayed in the countryside, helping his grandparents with household chores.
After graduating from school, Albert enrolled in an agricultural technical college and earned a qualification in law, though he never worked in that field. Instead, he joined his parents in the family construction crew. His father died at the age of 42 when Albert was 20 years old. The responsibility of helping support the family fell on the young man, and he took a job selling auto parts.
In the late 1990s, Albert's mother began studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses and shared what she learned with her children. Eventually, Albert also began studying the Bible. He said: "Studying the Bible helped me overcome harmful habits, including foul language and alcohol abuse. This book taught me to be a moral person, not to repay evil for evil, and to be compassionate and willing to help others." According to Albert, his faith also changed his attitude toward family: "I learned to sincerely love and respect my parents and to be a loyal and dependable friend." In 2003, Albert was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses.
In 2011, he married Olesya. A trained nurse, she enjoys drawing and reading in her spare time. Together with friends, the couple enjoy traveling around the country, especially visiting the mountains and skiing and cycling. Albert enjoys baking bread and preparing dishes from various cultures, including khinkali, pizza, pilaf, and kimchi. He also completed a digital art course and paints portraits.
The criminal prosecution became a difficult ordeal not only for the believer himself but also for his loved ones. Despite having a disability, Albert's mother attended every court hearing. Pilshchikov was supported by friends and fellow believers, who regularly came to the courthouse. According to him, their support touched him deeply.