Biography
Mariya Gareeva was born in the city of Tuymazy (Bashkortostan). She has a twin sister. Their father worked as a mechanical engineer for over 35 years, and their mother worked as a lawyer all her life. Both are already retired.
Mariya loves learning and learning something new. As a child, she did drawing and dancing and in high school she joined the volleyball team. In addition to sports and creativity, she loved geometry and technical drawing. Later, she graduated from a college specializing in Economics and Accounting, and then received two higher educations — economics and legal, each with honors. After graduation, she worked as a corporate lawyer and also provided private legal services.
Her thirst for knowledge prompted Mariya to study the Bible. She began paying special attention to this book during her student years, although she had heard about it as a child from her grandmother. "I understood," Mariya recalls, "that a secular education would give me knowledge, but it would not teach me how to live. But the Bible revealed practical wisdom, for example, how to choose good friends and get along with others." In 2012, Mariya was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. "Since then, Bible knowledge has often helped me to make wise choices in my life and in difficult moments it has been a source of comfort," she says.
Mariya still enjoys playing volleyball with friends. Her other hobbies include billiards and making and editing videos.
The prosecution turned Mariya's life upside down. The absence of communicating with her sister and other relatives was especially difficult for her. "My father is worried. He once said that it was the first time he saw me with such sad eyes," the believer said. She added: "The experience shook me emotionally and it took a while for me to regain my balance. The worries are not completely gone, but thanks to help from God and the support of friends, my mind settles, and slowly you begin to adapt to the new circumstances."