Andrei Martynov

In June 2021, the Russian Federal Security Service initiated a criminal case against unidentified individuals, and a week later, a series of searches were conducted in the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses in Alatyr. The family of Andrei Martynov had previously been investigated twice (with the first search taking place in 2012). During these searches, law enforcement officials seized electronic devices, photographs, personal records, drawings, and other items that contained inscriptions mentioning the name of God - Jehovah.

In April 2022, Andrei and Nina Martynov, Mikhail Ermakov, and Zoya Pavlova were officially charged. The men were accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization, while the women were charged with involvement and participation in it. In July 2022, the case of these Jehovah's Witnesses went to court, and in December of the same year, the court issued its verdict. The women were fined 350,000 rubles each, and the men received a 6-year suspended sentence. Two months later, the verdict became final following a decision by the appeals court.