Biography
Aleksandr Górev was born in 1962 in the settlement of Mayna (Khakassia). He grew up in a large family: he has an older brother and sister, and another older sister died in infancy. Aleksandr's parents lived through the war and the difficult post‑war years. They worked hard and taught their children to respect hard work.
Throughout his life, Aleksandr moved frequently, but Mayna remained the place he always returned to. This is where he spent his school years. At the age of seven, he developed love for sports—hockey and football—which has stayed with him throughout his life. After finishing school, Aleksandr completed training as an electric welder, and in 1979 he went to work at the Sayano‑Shushenskaya Hydroelectric Power Plant. He was later drafted into the army, and after his service he was assigned to the Berezovskaya State District Power Plant in Krasnoyarsk Territory. There he worked as a welder and also coached children's hockey teams.
In the late 1980s, he returned to Mayna once again, first working at an aluminum plant and later becoming a ranger in a national park. Aleksandr has been retired since 2017.
The year 1994 was especially difficult for Aleksandr: within just a few months, he lost several close relatives, including both of his parents. These events made him reflect on the meaning of life and what happens after death. During that time, he prayed to God for the first time. Soon afterward, an acquaintance gave him a Bible and showed him answers to his questions within its pages. Aleksandr recalls: "For the first month, I read the Bible voraciously, and when anyone asked how I was doing, I would say: 'I have come to believe in God! His name is Jehovah!'" He was baptized in April 1996.
Aleksandr married in 1998. Speaking about his wife Marina, he says: "She is hardworking and caring. She always wanted to create a warm home. The yard and garden were always neat and beautiful." The couple raised two daughters and a son and now have four grandchildren. The family enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, and taking trips to the mountains.
Aleksandr remains energetic and actively involved in community life. In 2025, the Mayna administration supported his initiative to build a sports area near his home—hockey and ice skating in winter, football, volleyball, and basketball in summer. Aleksandr himself still plays hockey and, together with his older brother, is a member of the veterans' club "Generation 60+."
Relatives, including those who do not share Aleksandr's religious beliefs, are deeply troubled by the criminal charges against him. Neighbors who know him well consider the accusations of extremism absurd, saying he is the kind of person who "wouldn't hurt a fly."