Updated: April 19, 2024
Name: Perekatiy Natalya Ivanovna
Date of Birth: May 8, 1953
Current status: Defendant
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2)
Time spent in prison: 2 day in a temporary detention facility
Current restrictions: Recognizance agreement

Biography

In November 2020, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, 67-year-old Natalia Perekatiy had to spend 2 days in a temporary detention center after a raid by security forces in the town of Gryazi. The search and criminal prosecution came as a complete surprise to the believer. For three decades, she was a Christian and peacefully shared her religious views with others. But now she has to defend her right to freedom of religion.

Natalya was born in 1953. Since childhood, she reflected on the beauty of nature, loved to draw. Having matured, the girl began to think about the meaning of life. But at that time she could not find answers to her questions, since the school instilled atheistic views. Living in Abkhazia, Natalya, together with her husband, raised three children, taught commodity science. In 1993, the woman was widowed.

Natalya was always worried about injustice. Having got acquainted with the Bible, she received answers to her questions. Understanding the causes of people's suffering and applying wise advice from the Holy Scriptures helped the believer to relate more calmly to what is happening in the world.

Despite the persecution, Natalya tries not to lose heart. She finds joy in her favorite hobbies — calm music and outdoor recreation. The believer notes that she has no grudge against people who suspect her of extremism.

Case History

In November 2020, officers of the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on extremism, and the next day, accompanied by riot police, conducted a series of searches at 9 addresses of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the town of Gryazi. Five peaceful believers, including two pensioners, were detained and sent to a temporary detention facility. Natalia Perekatiy, Tatyana Morlang and Svetlana Vyrezkova were released 2 days later on their own recognizance, and Yevgeny Reshetnikov and Sergey Kretov were sent to a pre-trial detention center. In June 2021, two more believers were detained as part of the same criminal case: Aleksandr Popras and Valeriy Khmil. No preventive measure was chosen against Popras, and Khmil was placed under house arrest for 57 days. Kretov and Reshetnikov spent about 8 months in a pre-trial detention center and 4 months under house arrest. In November 2023, the court began considering the case.