Biography
Andrey Mikhaylov, a security systems installation technician, unexpectedly faced persecution for his faith in March 2025 when FSB officers came to him with a search.
Andrey was born in November 1983 in Stavropol. As a child, he had many hobbies. He practiced acrobatics and ballroom dancing, sang in the choir and learned to play the accordion. The boy studied radio electronics, attended various children's clubs: soft toys, flower making, photography, cutting and sewing.
Andrey has two sisters: the elder and the younger. When he was a teenager, their father left the family. Mother worked as an insurance agent and tried to give the children everything they needed.
After graduating from the 9th grade of school, Andrey entered college with a degree in tailoring. At first, he worked in a car dealership, then in a workshop for sewing men's suits and leather goods. Later he worked as a postman, warehouse manager in a shoe store. Currently, Andrey works as an installation technician for fire and burglar alarm systems, access control systems and video surveillance.
As a child, Andrey had a special fear of death. When he was 11, Jehovah's Witnesses came to his family. The boy was interested in what they were saying about paradise and eternal life on earth. In 1998, Andrey was baptized as a Jehovah's Witness. Upon reaching the draft age, he applied for alternative civilian service (ACS), but he was sent to a military plant. Because of his peace-loving Christian convictions, Andrey refused the distribution and appealed against it in court. The court refused to change the place of service and found Andrey guilty of evading the ACS, imposing a large fine.
In 2010, Andrey married Nataliya and moved to her in Tambov. Nataliya grew up in a large family—she has five brothers and a sister. From childhood, their parents instilled in them an interest in the spiritual. The couple love to spend time with friends in nature and play sports games.
The criminal prosecution became a test for Andrey and his family. A week after the search, all his cards and accounts were blocked, making it difficult to receive his salary. Andrey's colleagues are surprised by what is happening.