Kalistratov Aleksandr

Name: Kalistratov Aleksandr Viktorovich
Date of Birth: July 16, 1976
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)
Current restrictions: suspended sentence
Sentence: punishment in the form of 6 years 6 months of imprisonment with deprivation of the right to engage in organizational activities in public or religious associations, public or religious organizations for a term of 3 years, with restriction of liberty for a term of 1 year, a sentence of imprisonment shall be considered suspended with a probationary period of 4 years

Biography

Aleksandr Kalistratov faced criminal prosecution for his faith three times. Twice he managed to defend his good name in court, but in 2023 he was sentenced to 6.5 years of suspended term.

Aleksandr, the third son in the family, was born in the city of Biysk, Altai Territory, in July 1976. Three years later, his father died.

During his school years, Aleksandr was fond of reading, photography and skiing. In 1998, he graduated from Gorno-Altai State University. As a student, Aleksandr was particularly interested in biology and the theory of evolution. At the same time, his mother began to study the Bible.

One day, Aleksandr came across a book dedicated to the origin of life on Earth. "It had a huge impact on my worldview," he recalls. "I realized that life was created." He was struck by the simplicity and clarity with which the Bible describes the creation of the world, as well as its internal consistency and fulfillment of prophecies. In 1994, Aleksandr chose the Christian path.

In 2000, for the first time, Aleksandr had to defend his peace-loving Christian views before the court. A criminal case was initiated, the believer spent 21 days in a pre-trial detention center. The criminal case was taken to court, but the court acquitted Aleksandr. Ten years later, law enforcement agencies tried to re-prosecute Kalistratov for believing in God. Again, the court ruled in acquittal.

The new, third in a row, criminal prosecution has changed the life of Aleksandr and his wife, Yuliya, who from a young age appreciates the spiritual. The believer said: "The unknown is scary. Relatives support us and are proud of us."

For several years, the man worked as a school psychologist, but due to criminal prosecution he was forced to change his profession. "Since then, I have no longer worked in my specialty," Aleksandr said. "Despite my higher education, I was forced to work either as a janitor or as a handyman. But the Bible taught me to appreciate any work, and my religion taught me to love all people."

Case History

Aleksandr Kalistratov has faced criminal prosecution for the third time because of his faith. In 2000, he was arrested and placed in a pretrial detention center for 21 days for refusing to take up arms. However, he was later acquitted by the court with the right to rehabilitation. In 2010, again for his beliefs Aleksandr found himself in the dock, on charges of extremism. His case was considered twice within 1.5 years. As a result, the first guilty verdict under Article 282 of the RF CrC was passed against one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Eventually, the believer managed to defend his honest name: the Supreme Court of the Altai Republic found Kalistratov not guilty with the right to rehabilitation. But in December 2021, he again became a defendant in a criminal case under the same article for extremism. Kalistratov’s house was searched, after which the believer was placed under a recognizance agreement. In February 2023, the court gave Aleksandr a 6.5-year suspended sentence. The courts of appeal and cassation upheld this verdict.
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