Mikhail Yermakov

In June 2021, the Russian Federal Security Service opened a criminal case against unidentified persons, and a week later a series of searches of Jehovah's Witnesses' homes took place in Alatyr. The family of Andrei Martynov was investigated twice (the first search took place in 2012). The law enforcers seized electronic devices, photographs, personal records, drawings and other items, in the inscriptions on which the name of God - Jehovah - was mentioned. In April 2022, Andrei and Nina Martynov, Mikhail Ermakov and Zoya Pavlova were charged: the men with organising the activities of an extremist organisation, and the women with involvement and participation in it. In July 2022, the believers' case went to court, and in December of the same year, the court sentenced the women to a fine of 350,000 rubles (≈$6700 as of 01.07.2022) and the men to 6 years of suspended sentence. Two months later, the verdict came into force on appeal.

The criminal prosecution has affected Mikhail's health: due to unfounded accusations and threats from law enforcers, his heart disease has worsened. The believer is also facing financial difficulties, as he is deprived of part of his salary due to the summons to the investigator during working hours.