Biography
"I was separated from my husband, we have not been able to see each other for more than a year," said Irina Shishkina, who was placed under a recognizance agreement, while her husband is under house arrest due to criminal prosecution for their faith.
Irina was born in the small village of Karalda, Kemerovo Region. In the family were five children — Irina and her 4 brothers. Their father worked as a chief accountant in a factory for 45 years, and then served in the tax inspectorate; their mother worked as a nanny in a kindergarten and in a store, but she devoted most of her time to her family. Her parents and one of her brothers are no longer alive.
From childhood, Irina loved outdoor games and hiking; she helped her parents with the housework, learned to knit, sew and embroider. During her school years, she became interested in sports — volleyball, basketball, running, skiing — and participated in competitions.
After finishing school, she entered the Novokuznetsk Agricultural College, where she trained as an accountant. She worked in a branch of a bank as the head, and later in retail. In 2024, she qualified as a pharmacist and got a job in a pharmacy.
Irina's father was the first in the family to meet Jehovah's Witnesses, and in the 1990s he was baptized. A few years later, Irina became interested in the Bible. She recalls: "In the Bible, I found answers to many questions and my life gained purpose. I became a better person." In 2010, Irina became one of Jehovah's Witnesses.
After the death of her mother, the believer began to take care of her father, after he had suffered a stroke, until his death. In 2013, Irina married Vasiliy Shishkin. They are united by a love of nature, walking, cycling,hiking and camping.
Despite the criminal prosecution, those around them have not turned their backs on the Shishkins: colleagues and neighbors respect and try to support Irina, relatives and friends remain a reliable support.