Updated: April 26, 2024
Name: Пенская Василина Михайловна
Date of Birth: October 17, 1997
Current status: Defendant
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2)
Current restrictions: Recognizance agreement

Biography

In May 2023, Vasilina Penskaya, a confectioner from the Krasnodar Territory, faced criminal prosecution for her religious beliefs.

Vasilina was born in October 1997 in the village of Vyselki. After a while, the family moved to Norilsk, and later returned to the south of the country to be closer to relatives. Vasilina's mother works as a seamstress. Her father passed away in 2019.

As a child, Vasilina studied music, and also loved to cook pastries. After school, the girl immediately went to work. Now he works as a pastry chef.

Mother was the first in the family to get acquainted with the Bible, and later Vasilina became interested in this book. She was impressed by the wisdom of the advice that helped her choose the right friends as a teenager. As she grew older, she decided to take the Christian path.

In 2018, Vasilina got married. Her husband, Dmitry, works at a service station. He shares his wife's beliefs.

Relatives and friends are outraged by the criminal prosecution of Vasilina. Vasilina herself considers the accusations of extremism unfair, but maintains a positive attitude.

Case History

In February 2022, Vasilina Penskaya’s house in the village of Berezanskaya, Krasnodar Territory, was searched. A year and 4 months later, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against her for participating in the activities of an extremist organization. The believer, as well as her husband Dmitriy, were interrogated, after which they were released on recognizance agreement. The woman’s bank accounts were blocked. In December 2023, Vasilina’s case went to court. The case includes the testimony of a secret witness who collaborated with the FSB by making covert audio and video recordings of worship services.