In Village of Vyselki, Court Sentences Pensioner Lyudmila Zinina, 74, To Suspended Term for Her Faith in God

On June 11, 2025, the judge of the Vyselkovsky District Court of the Krasnodar Territory, Lidiya Koba, made a decision in the case of Lyudmila Zinina: two years suspended and six months of restriction of freedom for reading the Bible with friends.

Lyudmila worked as a nurse in an operating room for many years. She has been married since 1973 - for more than 50 years. They raised three children. In 2012, a misfortune happened in the family - the son died. "It was very difficult to survive his death," Zinina recalls. "Health problems have been added: heart and vascular diseases, osteoporosis, diabetes." In addition, the believer's daughter, Irina, also ended up being prosecuted.

Due to diseases of the legs and spine, Lyudmila can hardly move. "The trials were held in a neighboring settlement. Public transport runs, but only twice a day. If it were not for the help of friends, I would not have been able to get there. They regularly took me to trials, sacrificing their time and effort," she said.

Front: Lyudmila accompanied by her friend on day of court hearing. Background: Lyudmila’s daughter, Irina, with her friend

Shortly before the verdict, Zinina was diagnosed with cancer, but treatment has not yet been prescribed. According to her, during medical procedures, she encountered the bias of the medical staff - some medical workers spoke contemptuously about her because she was on trial for her faith. However, after a while, the attitude of some softened thanks to Lyudmila's behavior.

The criminal prosecution of Lyudmila Zinina has been dragging on since February 2022. At that time, mass searches were carried out in the homes of believers in the Kuban. Recalling those events, Lyudmila said: "When the law enforcement officers arrived, the neighbors were so outraged that they were ready to stand up for me, I even had to dissuade them." Prior to the verdict, Lyudmila was under a recognizance agreement.

In Vyselki, trials are underway against 15 of Jehovah's Witnesses. Lyudmila Zinina was the first of them to be sentenced for her faith.