Another Verdict Against One of Jehovah's Witnesses in Birobidzhan. Yelena Shestopalova Given Suspended Sentence

On June 24, 2026, the Birobidzhanskiy District Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region gave Yelena Shestopalova, 60, a 2.5-year suspended sentence for participating in the activity of an organization that the state has declared extremist. The bottom line of the charge was that the believer read the Bible with her friends.

"Persecution can even bring joy if you use the opportunity to endure with dignity. Being a Christian I see this as an honor," Yelena concludes regarding the events of recent years. "My friends supported me... Once, they brought me gifts and handmade cards from children from a neighboring town. I remember the words: 'Dreams have no expiration date. Don't give up!' It made me cry."

The criminal case against Yelena was initiated by the FSB in October 2025. Shortly thereafter, her home was searched. "I wasn't afraid in the slightest. I tried to find a reason to praise the officers, for example, for their tact and politeness. I am a peaceful person," the believer explained. Notably, law enforcement officers arrived at the very moment when Yelena was getting ready to attend a court hearing in the case of her daughter, Vladlena Kukavitsa. Her daughter had already been given a 4.5-year suspended sentence, but numerous appeal hearings lay ahead. "I was more worried about Vladlena than myself. We try to support each other and also be a reliable help for others," Yelena says.

The trial against Yelena began in April 2026. At the earliest hearings, the prosecutor read out a large volume of written materials unrelated to Yelena: documents dating from 2015, which fell outside the period of the charges, as well as materials from the case of another defendant, Oleg Postnikov, including search protocols and lists of items seized from him.

Yelena considers the charge unlawful and unfounded. "I am not the only one who has faced criminal prosecution. In our city, several other people who have done no harm to anyone are also under criminal prosecution. Like me, they are decent members of society," the believer mentioned in her final statement. In Birobidzhan, 32 Jehovah's Witnesses have faced prosecution.