Biography
Maksim was born in 1979 in Sergach, Nizhny Novgorod Region. He is his an only child. His father, a Candidate for Master of Sport in freestyle wrestling, ran a sambo club; and worked as a forest ranger. His mother worked as an assembly technician at the Sergach Electromechanical Plant and later several years as a facilities supervisor at the local clinic. Both parents are now retired.
Maksim grew up in a loving atmosphere; his hospitable and generous parents often invited friends over. From childhood, he was taught good qualities — decency, honesty, respect for elders, and love for all living creatures. The family often spent time outdoors: they would go to the forest, go fishing, sometimes staying overnight. This influenced Maksim's choice of profession.
Maksim graduated from the Vyatka State Agricultural Academy. Later, he worked as a sales consultant in a pet store, and before his arrest, he taught biology and chemistry in a school. Maksim put his heart and soul into his work: he spent a lot of time with the children, and the students appreciated him — they would write him cards and give him handmade presents. In his free time, Maksim played music on the balalaika and guitar, picked melodies by ear, and improvised. As a teenager, he graduated from music school with a focus on the bayan.
Maksim's grandmother instilled in him a love for God. He said: "The love for all living things I absorbed in childhood helped me draw closer to God." Later, he began to wonder why people suffer. A classmate showed him the Bible's answer. In 2001, Maksim became one of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Maksim met his wife Zhanna while visiting friends. Zhanna is a nurse. They were brought together by similar outlooks on life. They married in 2008. The couple enjoy spending time together: going outdoors, meeting with friends, visiting their parents, and spending quiet family evenings reading and drawing.
Their ususal way of life was disrupted when their home was searched in March 2026. Maksim was placed in a pretrial detention center, and his wife had to care for their elderly parents on her own. Zhanna said: "It is very hard to be separated from the person closest to you and not be able to wish him good night every evening or good morning every day." She added: "Every day I worry about how he is feeling."
Although Maksim's parents do not share his religious beliefs, they are perplexed by his criminal prosecution. The help of friends has been an important source of support for the family during this period.