APRIL 1, 2022
RUSSIA

UPDATE | Brother Sergey Belousov Defends God’s Name

PLAY

On June 30, 2022, the Tomsk Regional Court denied the appeal of Brother Sergey Belousov. He is not required to go to prison at this time.

On April 14, 2022, the Severskiy City Court of the Tomsk Region convicted Sergey and imposed a suspended prison sentence of three years.

Time Line

July 14, 2020

FSB officers raided seven homes, including Sergey’s. A government agent who feigned interest in the Bible secretly recorded congregation meetings in the months prior to the raid
March 25, 2021

A criminal case was initiated against Sergey
March 30, 2021

Sergey was formally charged based on the recordings made by the government agent. Sergey was accused of taking part in religious services with the help of online videoconferencing tools, as well as singing songs and praying to Jehovah God

Profile

Sergey Belousov

Born: 1978 (Esil, Kazakhstan)

Biography: Raised in a family of musicians. Worked as an electrician and site manager in a petrochemical plant. Later, worked as a project developer at a design firm. Married Svetlana in 1999. They have one daughter

Met Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2001. From the Bible, he learned about God’s personal name, Jehovah, and found satisfying answers to questions that had concerned him. Baptized in 2002

Personal Comments

How have the brothers and sisters cared for you and your family?

Our dear brothers and sisters have never ignored us. The very next day after the search, they came to see us and our relatives to offer their support. All our electronic devices had been seized during the search, which meant that we could not even read the Bible. So they brought us their own devices, and because of that, we were not left without spiritual food for even a single day.

What motivates you to endure?

I remind myself that whatever the outcome of the trials, we are victors in Jehovah’s eyes. What is needed is not a strong attorney but, rather, a strong relationship with God. We are not guilty of anything. We are living during a unique period. It is a privilege to take part in such things! . . . The goal is to [help] vindicate God’s sovereignty. We do not go to the hearings to prove our innocence. We go to defend Jehovah’s name.

Like Sergey, as we praise the name of Jehovah, we are convinced that “He will exalt the strength of his people.”—Psalm 148:13, 14.

Jehovah’s Witnesses

UPDATE | Brother Sergey Belousov Defends God’s Name

Time Line

Profile

You May Also Like

Imprisoned for Their Faith—Russia