Biography
"I have always been searching for God," said Vitaliy Astakhov, a resident of Chita. Spiritual things played an important role in his life from childhood. In March 2026, he and his wife Anastasiya became defendants in a criminal case for their religious beliefs.
Vitaliy was born in Chita. He was an only child. He was raised by his mother and grandmother.
Vitaliy was creative from a young age. He wrote and continues to write poems, songs, and stories. Sports play a significant role in his daily life: he regularly goes to the gym, which, according to him, helps him to "keep in good shape and stay healthy."
After finishing school, he immediately started working. He trained as a hairdresser and later became a barber. He opened a salon with his wife where they work together.
Since childhood, Vitaliy has been interested in Bible teachings. He discussed the questions that arose with his grandmother's sister. In time, he began to study the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. According to Vitaliy, this book had a noticeable impact on his life and personality: "I stopped fighting, swearing, being lazy; it has become easier to deal with stuttering, which I've had since childhood. Studying the Bible helped me develop only positive qualities, but did not push me to extremism at all." In September 2014, Vitaliy Astakhov was baptized.
In 2021, he married Anastasiya. His wife shares the same values.
In March 2026, a criminal case was initiated against the Astakhovs. "During the search, they forced me to tell the password, pressed their knees on my face, slammed me against the wall four times," said Vitaliy. The experience affected the whole family: due to the stress, his grandmother had a stroke; her left arm was paralyzed.