Wives of Prisoners of Conscience from Blagoveshchensk Sentenced to Forced Labor

On December 6, 2024, the Blagoveshchensk City Court announced the verdict against four women - Jehovah's Witnesses. Judge Stanislav Stanishevskiy sentenced them to different terms of punishment for their faith: Kristina Golik and Valentina Yermilova — 2.5 years, and Mariya Myasnikova and Yekaterina Olshevskaya — 2 years and 2 months forced labor with 10% of the salary being paid to the state.

Searches, interrogations, arrest of relatives and separation from them — according to the recollections of the believers, they went through a lot during the 6 years their families were being prosecuted. The husbands of Golik, Yermilova and Olshevskaya were sentenced to long terms for their faith. As well as her husband, Yekaterina's father also faced such a punishment. "It's incredibly hard for me to see my little son, who has just begun to speak, asking me where his dad is," said Yekaterina Olshevskaya. "I was emotionally exhausted by the constant participation in court hearings related to the criminal cases of my father, my husband, and now my own." The execution of Olshevskaya's sentence has been deferred for about 10 years, until her son reaches the age of 14.

The FSB accused the women of participating in the activity of an extremist organization. The investigation considered holding meetings for worship, discussing the Bible with friends and meetings with friends in a café to be illegal actions. Valentina Yermilova commented on the charges as follows: "I do not have to justify myself. I didn't hurt anyone in any way. There were no victims. I did not take part in extremist actions. In our country, everyone has the right to freedom of religion." Mariya Myasnikova echoed her comments: "My faith is the complete opposite of extremism. It teaches you to love people, respect authority and be a peacemaker."

Hearings in the case began in May 2023. During the entire period of the preliminary and judicial investigation, the believers were under recognizance agreements. Even while in the colony, the husbands of the defendants assured their wives of their love and support through letters. Friends also helped the believers. "Despite heat, rain or frost, they came to the courthouse, always with smiles and words of encouragement," Yermilova said.

In the Amur Region, 24 of Jehovah's Witnesses have already faced criminal prosecution. In at least 5 families of believers, several people were under investigation - couples, brother and sister, father and daughter. The trend of prosecuting relatives who are Jehovah's Witnesses has also been gaining momentum in other regions in recent years.