Biography
Aleksandr Paysov was born in 1962 in Tuapse, Krasnodar Territory. Later, the family moved to Zvenigorod, Moscow Region, where he graduated from high school in 1980. From the age of 8, he practiced acrobatics in a local circus.
When Aleksandr was 2 years old, his father left the family. His mother was forced to work several jobs, so his grandmother took an active part in raising Aleksandr. She was a teacher by education and worked as a teacher, deputy principal, and school principal in various regions of the USSR. His grandmother instilled moral values and a work ethic in her grandson.
After military service, Aleksandr enrolled at the Moscow Automotive Institute in the Department of Internal Combustion Engine Design. Due to family circumstances, Aleksandr had to begin working—without completing his third year, he got a job as a driver and, since 1986, has driven various types of cars and buses almost daily.
Aleksandr got married and had a daughter, whom he tried to raise as his grandmother and mother raised him—with respect for moral values.
From a young age, Aleksandr was concerned about issues of justice and kindness. He noticed that reading the Bible helped people become gentler and more considerate, and following his mother's example, he began to study it himself. In 2001, he became one of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Friends appreciate Aleksandr for his willingness to help, courage, and kindness. In his free time, he enjoys going to the banya and walking outdoors.
Before the criminal prosecution, the believer worked in the pension department of the post office. He also had to earn extra money working as a courier because his salary was not always sufficient—for the past 25 years, he has cared for his elderly mother, a person with a disability. Everything—from cleaning to cooking, as well as monitoring the intake of expensive medication—was his responsibility. Due to the criminal prosecution of Aleksandr, her condition has seriously worsened.
In his final statement to the court, Aleksandr Paysov said: "I am very grateful to my daughter, who, despite her busyness and fatigue, supports me both emotionally and physically, caring for me in detention . . . I want to continue caring for my mother and to be part of the lives of my beloved daughter and granddaughter." Nevertheless, the court sentenced him to imprisonment.