Voishchev Nikolay

Name: Voishchev Nikolay Pavlovich
Date of Birth: September 28, 1955
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)
Time spent in prison: 1 day in a temporary detention facility, 343 day in a pre-trial detention, 451 day in prison
Sentence: punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of 3 years with serving a sentence in a correctional colony of general regime, with deprivation of the right to engage in educational activities, as well as activities related to leadership and participation in religious, public associations and organizations for a period of 4 years, with restriction of liberty for a period of 1 year
Currently held in: Correctional Colony No. 8 of the Republic of Tatarstan
Address for correspondence: Voishchev Nikolay Pavlovich, born 1955, Correctional Colony No. 8 of the Republic of Tatarstan, Ul. Bazovaya, 26, Almetyevsk, Republic of Tatarstan, 423450

Letters of support can be sent by regular mail or through the «zonatelecom».

Parcels and parcels should not be sent because of the limit on their number per year.

Note: discussing topics related to criminal prosecution is not allowed in letters; languages other than Russian will not pass.

Biography

In October 2022, security forces broke into the home of pensioner Mykola Voishchev. His house was searched, the man was detained and sent to a pre-trial detention center for practicing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Nikolay was born in September 1955 in the city of Kandalaksha, Murmansk region. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Bratsk. Nicholas has a brother and an adult son who live far away.

Nicholas was introduced to the Bible by his parents. For some time he lived with them in Belarus. There Nikolay graduated from a technical school and became a specialist in gas equipment.

Having met his future wife, Tatyana, Nikolay in 1980 moved to her place of residence, to Maikop (Adygea), where they soon got married.

Nikolay worked as a watch repairman. When Tatiana became seriously ill in 1995, he cared for her for many years. After her death in 2014, Nikolay stayed in Maykop and worked as a plumber until his arrest.

Nikolay loves nature, travel, people. He is always ready to help in solving difficult issues or some everyday problems. Nikolai's acquaintances speak of him as a kind, modest and cheerful person. Despite the fact that the believer suffers from serious illnesses, and close relatives are not around, he does not lose heart.

Case History

In October 2022, an investigator of the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on extremism against Nikolai Voishchev, a Jehovah’s Witness from Maykop. The investigation interpreted the discussion of the Bible with fellow believers via video link as extremist activity. A man with a serious illness ended up in jail only because of his faith. The case went to court in December 2022. The case involved the testimony of two secret witnesses and an examination that the defense considers unscientific. The believer was sentenced to 3 years in prison in September 2023.
Timeline
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