Updated: April 19, 2024
Name: Korolev Aleksandr Yevgeniyevich
Date of Birth: September 20, 1978
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2)
Time spent in prison: 144 day in a pre-trial detention, 459 day in prison
Sentence: punishment in the form of 2 years of imprisonment in a penal colony of general regime, with restriction of liberty for 6 months
Currently held in: Penal Colony No. 12 in the Republic of Mordovia
Address for correspondence: Korolev, Aleksandr Yevgeniyevich, born 1978, IK No 12 in The Republic of Mordovia, ul. Novaya, 2, pos. Molochnitsa, Zubovo-Polyanskiy r-n, The Republic of Mordovia, Russia, 431101

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 2019, several residents of Saransk, including Aleksandr Korolev, were prosecuted for their faith. Law enforcers considered the conversations about the Bible to be participation in the activities of an extremist organization.

Aleksandr was born in 1978 in the Zemetchinsky district of the Penza region. He has two siblings. The children grew up without a father. As a child, Aleksandr was fond of fishing, playing football.

After school, Aleksandr received the profession of a tractor driver of a wide profile. He worked on a collective farm as a shepherd, livestock breeder and gas boiler operator. Recently he has been working as a carpenter-fitter of wooden products.

For some time, Aleksandr lived in the village of Akim-Sergeevka (Mordovia), then moved to Saransk. Still loves fishing, board games, enjoys working with his wife in the country.

Having once learned the biblical doctrine of eternal life, Aleksandr realized that he had found the answer to a question that had worried him for many years. He still marvels at how logically the Bible explains vital issues.

Alexander met his future wife Natalia in Saransk. At that time, she was raising her son alone. They got married in 2006. Nataliya loves sewing, playing board games and chatting with friends. She was impressed by the Bible's parenting advice, so she also loved this wise book.

The criminal prosecution has brought anxiety, worry and uncertainty into the life of this peaceful family. The parents of Aleksandr and Nataliya worry about their spouses and try to support them.

Case History

In February 2019, in Saransk, the FSB opened a criminal case against three believers on suspicion of extremism. After mass searches, Vladimir Atryakhin, the father of two young children, as well as Alexander Shevchuk and Georgy Nikulin ended up in a pre-trial detention center, where they spent from 2 to 5 months. Later, 3 more defendants appeared in the case - Alexander Korolev, Elena Nikulina and Denis Antonov. The case went to court in May 2021. The defense managed to show the court several times that the declassified witness Vlasov was giving false testimony. In August 2022, the believers were convicted: Vladimir Atryakhin was sentenced to 6 years, Georgy and Yelena Nikulin — 4 years and 2 months each, and Aleksandr Shevchuk, Aleksandr Korolev and Denis Antonov — 2 years in prison. The appeal upheld the verdict. In November 2023, Aleksandr Shevchuk was released from the colony.