Name: Yurenkova Yelena Viktorovna
Date of Birth: October 5, 1970
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2)
Current restrictions: suspended sentence
Sentence: punishment in the form of 2 years in prison, the punishment is considered conditional with a probationary period of 2 years

Biography

Yelena Yurenkova, a peaceful believer, was unexpectedly accused of extremism in May 2023. The reason was her beliefs—the woman has been studying the Bible for more than 20 years.

Yelena was born in 1970 in Tolyatti. She grew up surrounded by the warmth and care of her family. His father worked in a factory, his mother was a paramedic. As a family, they often rested outside the city in nature. Grandfather and grandmothers, despite their modest wealth, were always happy to welcome guests. They instilled hospitality and generosity in Yelena.

Even in her teenage years, Yelena thought about the inevitability of death. A special blow was the tragic death of her cousin, whom everyone loved very much. The girl tried to find answers to her questions about God, reading Russian classical literature and later, studying at the institute—the works of philosophers. But, she said, she only got more confused.

In the late 1990s, Yelena decided to get acquainted with the Bible. She was impressed by God's purpose for the earth and people, and touched by the Bible's counsel to treat one another with kindness, understanding, and love. In 1999, Yelena made Christian norms her main life principles.

Yelena's husband, Yuriy, shares her views. The couple have been married since 2000. "He takes care of me, we have many common interests: we like to be in nature, take pictures of beautiful places and animals, ride bicycles, listen to classical music," says the believer. The couple have a good relationship with their adult daughters.

The criminal prosecution causes bewilderment among Yelena's relatives and friends.

Case History

Yelena Yurenkova became a defendant in a criminal case for her faith when searches were carried out in Tolyatti in May 2023. She was placed under a recognizance agreement. The Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee for the Samara Region accused her of participating in the activity of an extremist organization because she peacefully met with her fellow believers. The basis for initiating the criminal case were hidden video recordings of meetings for worship, which were made over 2.5 years. In July 2023, the case went to court. The prosecutor requested a sentence of 4 years in a penal colony for Yelena. In March 2024, the court gave the believer a 2-year suspended sentence.