Name: Perefileva Irina Aleksandrovna
Date of Birth: March 30, 1965
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1.1), 282.2 (2)
Current restrictions: suspended sentence
Sentence: punishment in the form of 5 years 6 months of imprisonment, with restriction of liberty for a term of 1 year 8 months, punishment in the form of imprisonment shall be considered conditional with a probationary period of 2 years 6 months

Biography

Irina Perefilyeva from Mednogorskoye was suspected of extremist activity because of talking about the Bible. A mother of two sons, who has an elderly mother in her care, faces imprisonment only because of her faith.

Irina was born in March 1965 in the city of Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Sverdlovsk Region. Her father worked as a miner, and her mother worked in the trade. Irina has an elder brother. When she was 9 years old, the family moved to the village of Mednogorsky (Karachay-Cherkessia).

Irina graduated from a technical school with a degree in road construction and worked by profession in the city of Valuiki, Belgorod Region. She had to change her occupation in order to take care of her son, who has a disability - for the past 20 years, Irina has been working as a janitor. In her spare time, she sews.

Due to family problems and a sense of inner emptiness, Irina began to wonder what the meaning of life is. Finding comfort and answers to her questions in the Bible, she embarked on the Christian path in 2003.

Against the background of stress due to criminal prosecution, Irina's health deteriorated. She also worries that she will not be able to take care of her family if her freedom is restricted.

Case History

In January 2021, in the village of Mednogorskoye, FSB officers conducted inspections in the apartments of local believers, including Irina Perefileva. In November 2021, the Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case against her for involvement in the activities of an extremist organization. The next day, her apartment was searched. In the same month, Perefileva was also accused of participating in the activities of an extremist organization. In November 2022, the case went to trial. The prosecution’s key witness stated that she herself asked Irina to discuss the Bible with her. At the same time, she noted that she had not heard any calls for any illegal activities from the believer. In August 2023, the judge sentenced Irina Perefileva to five years and six months of suspended imprisonment.