Biography
Spouses Anna and Yevgeniy Bochko are known as sincere, kind-hearted people. Anna was born in July 1985 in the city of Korenovsk (Krasnodar Territory), was a beloved and desired child. She was named after her paternal grandmother. Anna says about her family: "Dad was a photographer by profession; he photographed weddings and other events. He loved his mother very much—this was evident from the huge number of photographs. My mother learned to be a dressmaker and sewed beautiful dresses for me and my younger sisters."
Later, the parents divorced, and the family had a stepfather, whom Anna remembers as a close person: "He was a great father, he loved my mother and us very much, helped at school with lessons, taught various crafts in his free time. This was useful in life for my husband and me." In total, there were six children in the family—a boy and five girls.
When Anna was ten, her father died. "My childhood dream of seeing my dad collapsed," she recalls. "The only thing that comforted me at that time was a good thought from the Bible about the resurrection of the dead, which I learned about from Bible radio broadcasts. It was a breath of air for me and a hope for future joy!" Anna's attitude to the Bible was greatly influenced by her great-grandfather, who instilled in her respect for the Holy Scriptures—in his youth he studied at a church school.
Since childhood, Anna loved outdoor games and crosswords, during her school years she played volleyball. Animals occupied a special place in Anna's life: she treated those who needed help and dreamed of becoming a veterinarian.
After graduating from school, the girl learned to be a pastry chef, but could not work in her profession due to her health condition. Then Anna mastered the specialty of landscaper and worked in a shopping entertainment center in Krasnodar.
When Anna turned 18, her mother invited her to a meeting for worship of Jehovah's Witnesses. At that time, the girl thought about the meaning of life: is it really only to get married, give birth to children, work, grow old and die? "I decided: I'll go, see, listen—what if this is what I'm looking for? Anna recalls. "She said that I would agree if the Bible really teaches the resurrection of the dead." At the age of 21, she was baptized, and a few years later so was her mother.
In 2009, Anna married Yevgeniy Bochko. For some time, the couple lived in the city of Marks, Saratov Region, but later returned home due to the deterioration of their husband's health. Yevgeniy is an electromechanic by profession. In their free time, the couple like to walk. Although Anna did not become a veterinarian, she still loves animals, especially dogs, and trains them. She is also fond of sports, as well as growing unusual plants and cooking new dishes with pleasure.
In 2022, the house of the couple Bochko was searched. After that, some of the neighbors began to avoid communication: "People with whom we were on very good terms suddenly began to arrange provocations, trying to cause quarrels and record what was happening on video. But we decided not to give in and keep the peace as much as possible." Others, on the contrary, express support and consider it unacceptable to persecute for believing in God.
In the same year, Anna's mother was searched. Due to her recognizance agreement not to leave the district, Anna cannot visit her mother-in-law, who is often sick. The elderly woman considers this situation "madness and a violation of human rights." Anna's sisters wonder: "Is it possible to persecute a person for his faith?"