One More Conviction in the Jewish Autonomous Region. Vladlena Kukavitsa Got 6 Years Suspended for Talking About God

On April 10, 2025, the Birobidzhanskiy District Court sentenced Vladlena Kukavitsa to 6 years of suspended term. Judge Aleksandr Kulikov considered the discussion of Christian faith to be involvement in "the activities of an extremist organization." Vladlena considers the sentence unjust.

Operational-search measures against Kukavitsa began back in July 2022. In February 2024, A. A. Karavaev, FSB investigator for the Jewish Autonomous Region, opened a criminal case against her for involvement in the activities of an extremist organization. At the same time, the woman's house was searched. A month later, another investigator, Dmitriy Yankin, who had repeatedly initiated criminal cases against Jehovah's Witnesses in the Jewish Autonomous Region, opened a second case against her, this time for participating in extremist activities. Then both cases were combined into one. Six months later, Vladlena was given a recognizance agreement. The prosecutor requested a 7-year suspended term for her.

The accusation in this case was based on the testimony of a woman named Valeria Suvorova, with whom Vladlena communicated on biblical topics. In court, the believer noted that this was a provocation on the part of law enforcement agencies and said: "Valeria Suvorova herself asked me to continue talking to her on religious topics, pretending that she was interested, that she needed God's consolation, hope for the wonderful future that God promises. When I learned that this girl had difficult life circumstances, I sincerely wanted to help her."

Vladlena Kukavitsa works at an ambulance station and has a reputation as a conscientious worker and a peace-loving person. Her reference from her place of work says that she is polite, non-confrontational, maintains friendly relations with colleagues and has never spoken offensively about other people.

In court, the believer defended herself, and since the hearings were held behind closed doors, none of her relatives could attend the court hearings. At the same time, many came to support her at the courthouse. She talked about what helped her: "While I was in the courtroom, I was very supported and strengthened by the thought that my friends were now waiting for me and soon I would see them and be able to hug them."

At the time of the sentencing of Vladlena Kukavitsa, 26 Jehovah's Witnesses had already been prosecuted in the Jewish Autonomous Region. Half of them are women, all of them are sentenced to suspended sentences ranging from two to four and a half years.