Updated: March 28, 2024
Name: Vyushin Andrey Yevgeniyevich
Date of Birth: September 2, 1975
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)
Time spent in prison: 2 day in a temporary detention facility, 90 day in a pre-trial detention
Current restrictions: Suspended sentence
Sentence: punishment in the form of 2 years 6 months of imprisonment, with restriction of liberty for 6 months, punishment in the form of imprisonment shall be considered conditional with a probationary period of 1 year

Biography

Andrey Vyushin, the father of a little child caring og an elderly disabled mother, was subjected to religious discrimination in April 2021 because of his faith in God. A criminal case was opened against him and, having been thrown behind bars, he was separated from his family for three months.

Andrey was born in September 1975 in Yaroslavl. His parents divorced when he was about 5 years old. The mother and grandmother took up the upbringing of the only child in the family. As a child, Andrey was fond of ship modeling. He has a good ear for music, he learned to play the button accordion.

After school with in-depth study of mathematics, Andrey graduated from the Yaroslavl State Technical University. For some time he worked at a local motor plant, and then for more than 15 years as a system administrator in one of the local companies. He mastered the administration of automation systems for the restaurant and hotel business, and is an individual entrepreneur in this area. Vyushin is described as an honest person, a professional in his field, capable of solving difficult problems.

After retirement, Andrey’s mother fell ill and received a group I disability. She does not move independently and needs constant care, for more than 20 years she has been fully taken care of by her son.

When Andrey was young his friend died tragically, so the biblical hope for the resurrection of the dead acquired a special meaning for him. Convinced of the consistency of the Bible, Andrey decided to take the Christian path. He has found loyal friends among Jehovah's Witnesses and values them for their willingness to support him in difficult times.

Andrey met his future wife Anastasiya in 2012, and in September 2013 they got married. After 2 years, they had a daughter. As a child, Anastasiya lost many relatives, so she, like Andrey, was especially impressed by the biblical teaching on the resurrection of the dead. The knowledge of God gave her peace and consolation. Anastasiya is a pastry chef by profession, but for the past few years she has not been working, raising her daughter. Anastasiya loves to cook, sew, knit, plant indoor flowers.

Andrey has lived all his life in his beloved city of Yaroslavl. In summer, the whole family goes picking mushrooms and berries, and in winter they go skiing. Among the hobbies of the Vyushins are watching cartoons, collecting puzzles, traveling and hiking.

The search and arrest of Andrey affected all members of the Vyushin family — they lost their breadwinner. Anastasiya's physical health was also shaken, she began to worry about dizziness, fainting and insomnia. “The child did not fall asleep well, often asked about dad when we would see you,” Anastasiya recalls about the time when Andrey was behind bars.

Andrey’s mother began to fear being left alone in the apartment for a long time. Although she does not share her son's religious beliefs, she finds it difficult to believe that reading the Bible could put him in jail.

Talking about her wife, Anastasiya shares: “He is by nature very kind, calm, patient and tactful. As his friends say, "a teddy bear" who could not commit anything extremist. "

Case History

In April 2021, the investigation initiated a criminal case under an article for extremism against Andrey Vyushin, Petr Filiznov, as well as the couple Aleksandr and Mariya Kuznetsov. They were suspected of holding meetings for worship “including through the Internet, in which [they] promoted forbidden teachings”. The law enforcement officers conducted searches in Yaroslavl and neighboring Rybinsk, after which 4 believers were placed in a detention center. After 3 months, the court released them under a ban on certain actions. Vyushin was fitted with a tracking bracelet on his leg, and a control device was installed in his apartment, although his preventive measure did not prohibit him from leaving his home or being in certain places. In August 2022, the case went to court. After 11 months, the believers were sentenced: Andrey Vyushin and Petr Filiznov were given 6.5 years suspended and Aleksandr and Mariya Kuznetsov – 2.5 years.