Russian Court Orders Man Named 'Jesus Christ' to Revert to Original Name.

Russian Court Orders Kazan Resident to Revert to His Birth Name

According to TSN.ua: A court in Russia has ruled that a Kazan resident legally known as Jesus Petrovich Christ must change his name back to his original birth name, Yevgen Petrovich Chekulayev. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by Kazan prosecutor Ildar Ismagilov. The man had changed his name for religious reasons over a decade ago, but Russia's Ministry of Justice concluded such a name change is prohibited by law. This case highlights the strict legal controls Russia maintains over personal identity documents.

The Complex History of Jesus Petrovich Christ

The individual at the center of this case has a troubled personal history. In 2010, he suffered a severe traumatic brain injury, an event that significantly altered the course of his life. He has repeatedly come to the attention of law enforcement for criminal activities, including robbery and assault. In 2014, he was placed on a preventive register with a narcologist, indicating documented issues with substance abuse and social integration.

His legal troubles have continued recently. In December 2025, he received a two-year suspended sentence for the fraudulent registration of migrants, having officially registered 45 people at his own address. The latest court order to revert his name is another step in his ongoing legal saga, underscoring the Russian state's firm stance on enforcing naming regulations. The case illustrates the tension between personal religious expression and state control in Russia.