Updated: May 1, 2024
Name: Demidova Yekaterina Nikolayevna
Date of Birth: December 7, 1956
Current status: Defendant
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2)
Current restrictions: Recognizance agreement

Biography

In August 2023, Ekaterina Demidova became accused in a criminal case only because of her faith.

Ekaterina was born in December 1956 in the city of Ichnya (Ukraine) in a hardworking family. Her parents worked on a collective farm.

In her youth, Ekaterina was fond of skiing, took pride of place in competitions and received certificates. After school, she entered a technical school of public catering in the Crimea, and after graduation she stayed there to work on distribution.

In the late 1990s, Catherine became acquainted with Bible teachings. From the Holy Scriptures, she learned about the qualities of God. It touched her heart, and in 2005 she decided to become a Christian.

The criminal prosecution had a negative impact on the health of Ekaterina and her husband. Her husband does not share her religious beliefs, but treats them with respect. He worries about his wife and does not understand why she is being persecuted.

Case History

In November 2022, mass searches of believers took place in the Simferopol district of Crimea. Aleksandr Voronchikhin was interrogated and signed a recognizance agreement. The Investigative Committee accused him of organizing the activities of an extremist organization, calling peaceful worship a crime. In August 2023, new searches took place in Armyansk, Simferopol and Saki, including at the home of Voronchikhin’s son-in-law, Dmitry Zakharevich. He and several other believers became suspects in the case. Later, their case was separated into separate proceedings.