Biography
As a child, Anton Virich realized that hatred and cruelty were unacceptable for him, so he quit the aggressive sport. However, in July 2023, Russian law enforcement officers accused him of extremism. Because of his peace-loving convictions—faith in Jehovah God—the man ended up in a pre-trial detention center, and in the spring of 2024, the court sentenced him to 6 years in prison.
Anton was born in 1980 in Pervouralsk (Sverdlovsk region). He has an elder sister. When Anton was 6, his father sent him to judo classes. Five years later, the boy decided to leave this sport, as it contradicted his kind and sensitive nature. Often, the coach forced him to fight not only with boys, but also with women, in order to "see everyone as an enemy." Such views were unacceptable to Anton.
He also attended art school, liked skiing, dousing himself with cold water, and once took part in a city running marathon. In addition, Anton liked to do carpentry. At the construction school, which he graduated with honors, the young man learned to be a welder and went to work at the factory. Then he worked as a sales manager, and later was engaged in the decoration of apartments.
Anton, having met Jehovah's Witnesses, saw how the Bible changes people for the better, and delved into the study of this book. Loving God, he and his mother decided to become Jehovah's Witnesses. Later, their father joined them.
In June 2007, Anton married Liliya, who shares his views on life. What attracted her to the Bible was common sense, logic, and practicality. The couple love to walk together in nature, read books and paint oil paintings. Anton still loves sports—running and strength training.
The criminal prosecution and imprisonment of Anton affected the emotional state of the whole family. The believer's mother shared: "We are outraged by the attitude of the authorities towards our son. We brought him up according to high moral standards. He always showed love and kindness to us and others, was sensitive and attentive, responsive to other people's pain and problems, law-abiding, honest person. And we don't understand why our son is being prosecuted." Anton's mother-in-law emphasized: "This is unfair! He is a wonderful, kind, gentle and sympathetic person! I know that Anton suffers not for a crime, but for his faithfulness to God. No matter what happens in the future, I am confident that my son-in-law will withstand any test with dignity."