Biography
In 2019, a criminal case was initiated against several residents of Saransk, including Vladimir Atryakhin, for their faith. Law enforcement officers deemed conversations about the Bible to be organizing the activity of an extremist organization.
Vladimir was born in 1987 in the village of Rozhdestveno (Mordovia). He and his younger brother were raised in a single-parent family. Since childhood, Vladimir has loved sports; he enjoys playing football, volleyball, hockey and intellectual games with friends. Even while still at school, he became deeply interested in the Bible and loved this book.
Vladimir is a programmer; he works as a system administrator for two companies, and also edits a scientific journal for Mordovia State University. He is respected by his neighbors — he heads the residents committee for the house in which he lives.
In 2009, Vladimir married Mariya, the couple have two small children who were 7 months and 2 years old at the time of his arrest.
Vladimir's relatives were shaken by his criminal prosecution. Those of them who previously disapproved of Vladimir's religious views are now trying to help him in any way they can.