Biography
In the spring of 2023, searches were carried out in the towns of Kingisepp and Slantsy, Leningrad Region. Among the believers who were sent to a temporary detention center was Tatyana Stepanova.
She was born in October 1974 in the town of Slantsy. Her mother worked as a German language teacher. Tatyana has an older sister.
After graduating from school, Tatyana worked at a factory. She loved to read classical literature and historical novels. Her aunt introduced her to the Bible, and in 1992 Tatyana decided to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses. She was convinced from personal experience that the principles and advice from the Holy Scriptures can change a person's life for the better.
Because of the criminal prosecution, Tatyana's relatives are worried about her.
Case History
At the end of February 2023, seven searches took place in the towns of Kingisepp and Slantsy, Leningrad Region. The Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case on charges of extremism against Kirill Khabrik, Igor Zhmyrev, and other unidentified persons. Charges were also filed against Sergey Ryabokon, Andrey Morozov, and Yevgeniy Poveshchenko. The latter is under a recognizance agreement; the rest have been detained. At the end of March, searches again took place in Kingisepp. Eleven believers were interrogated. Five more people became defendants in the criminal case: Miroslav Sabodash, Igor Shevlyuga, Tatyana Stepanova, Aleksandr Vaganov, and Konstantsiya Vovk. They were placed in a temporary detention center but were quickly released except for Shevlyuga, who spent 26 days in a detention center. All five are prohibited from certain activities.
