Another Verdict Against a Jehovah's Witness in Birobidzhan. Yelena Shestopalova Receives a Suspended Sentence

On June 24, 2026, the Birobidzhan District Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region sentenced Yelena Shestopalova, 60, to two and a half years suspended for participating in the activity of an organization that the state has recognized as extremist. The essence of the charge was that the believer read the Bible with her friends.

"Persecution can even bring joy if you look for opportunities to conduct yourself with dignity. For me, as a Christian, it is an honor," Yelena reflected on the events of recent years. "I was supported by friends... Once, gifts and handmade cards from children were brought to me from a neighboring town. I remember the words: 'Dreams do not have an expiration date. Do not give up!' That brought me to tears."

The criminal case against Yelena was initiated by the FSB in October 2025. Shortly thereafter, her home was searched. "There was not a drop of fear. I tried to find a reason to compliment the officers, for example, for their tact and politeness. I am a peaceful person," the believer explained. Symbolically, law enforcement officers came at the very moment when Yelena was getting ready for a court hearing in the case of her daughter, Vladlena Kukavitsa. By that time, her daughter had already received a 4.5-year suspended sentence, but numerous appeal hearings remained ahead. "I was more worried about Vladlena than myself. We try to support each other and be a reliable help for others as well," Yelena says.

The trial against Yelena began in April 2026. At the very first hearings, the prosecutor read out a large volume of written materials unrelated to Yelena: documents dating from 2015, which fell outside the period of the charges, as well as materials from the case of another defendant, Oleg Postnikov, including search protocols and lists of items seized from him.

Yelena considers the charge unlawful and unfounded. "I am not the only one who has faced criminal prosecution. In our city, several other people who have done no harm to anyone are also under criminal prosecution. Like me, they are conscientious members of society," the believer mentioned in her final statement. In Birobidzhan, 32 Jehovah's Witnesses have faced persecution.