Name: Tastaybekova Aysulu Zeynulayevna
Date of Birth: January 2, 1972
Current status: defendant
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2)
Time spent in prison: 1 day in a temporary detention facility, 25 day in a pre-trial detention
Current restrictions: detention center
Currently held in: Detention Center No.1 for Tomsk Region
Address for correspondence: Tastaybekova Aysulu Zeynulayevna, born 1972, Detention Center No.1 for Tomsk Region, Ul. Pushkina, 48, Tomsk, Tomsk Region, 634003

Letters of support can be sent by regular mail or through the «zonatelecom».

Note: discussing topics related to criminal prosecution is not allowed in letters; languages other than Russian will not pass.

Biography

Aysulu Tastaybekova was born in 1972 in Shardara (Kazakhstan). She is the youngest of 4 children. Their father, a hydraulic engineer, died of a heart attack when the girl was only 4. His mother was a teacher of Russian language and literature. She passed away in 2015.

Aysulu grew up in the village, so she spent a lot of time caring for pets. "I read a lot," she shared, recalling that time. "I liked to help my mother check notebooks with works on the Russian language and identify mistakes."

Aysulu has a secondary technical education with a degree in electronic computer operator. But she worked in other areas: she was a secretary and an au pair. Aysulu loves to read, as well as cook a variety of dishes, including confectionery.

"The first time I came to a convention of Jehovah's Witnesses was in 1992," Aisulu said. "I was impressed by the friendly atmosphere among people of different nationalities, cultures and social backgrounds. I saw the sincere love that Christ taught and made reliable friends." At this event, Aysulu met Vladimir Pushkov for the first time, who helped her in her Bible study. A year later, she was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

In 2005, Vladimir and Aysulu got married. "He is a loving and caring husband," the believer said. "It was difficult for my family to come to terms with the idea that my chosen one was of a different nationality. But with each passing year, they saw how, on the basis of faith in God, our marriage became stronger. Seeing me happy, my relatives, especially my mother, began to trust the Bible." The common hobbies of the couple are traveling and hiking.

The criminal prosecution completely changed the way Aysulu and her husband lived: they were separated and taken into custody. Relatives consider what is happening to be a blatant injustice and are sure that the conscience of believers is clear before God and the state.

Case History

After searches in Tomsk in March 2025, three married couples of Jehovah’s Witnesses were detained. The Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case for organizing the activities of an extremist organization and participating in these activities. The next day, the court sent Vladimir Pushkov, Aysulu Tastaybekova, Yevgeniy Abramov and his wife Yana, Yevgeniy Dodolin and his wife Tatyana to a pre-trial detention center.
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