Name: Popkova Yuliya Yuriyevna
Date of Birth: December 17, 1978
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)
Time spent in prison: 1 day in a temporary detention facility, 36 day in a pre-trial detention, 63 day Under house arrest
Current restrictions: suspended sentence
Sentence: punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of 2 years 6 months, with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to leadership and participation in the work of public and religious organizations (associations) for a term of 3 years, with restriction of liberty for a term of 6 months, a sentence of imprisonment shall be considered suspended with a probationary period of 3 years

Biography

The life of Yuliya Popkova was not easy from childhood. She grew up in an incomplete and dysfunctional family. Mom died early, so the girl's fragile shoulders took care of her autistic younger sister until her death in 2009. In April 2021, Yuliya faced another serious test - because of her faith in Jehovah, she ended up in a pre-trial detention center.

Yuliya was born in the city of Bogoroditsk (Tula region) in December 1978. She had a younger sister as well as a half-brother and sister. As a child, she loved to draw, was actively involved in sports - volleyball, basketball, played for the school team. She loved to read, especially Russian classics, enjoyed learning something new.

After studying to be an accountant, Yuliya worked as a seamstress, a dough sheeter operator in a confectionery shop, a shoe uppers at a factory and a nanny in a kindergarten. The children loved her very much, and the management often asked for help as a talented graphic designer. Recently she worked in a cleaning company, where she has established herself as a decent, responsible and accurate employee.

As before, Yuliya loves reading, listening to audiobooks, cycling, playing tennis and doing Pilates. She enjoys spending time with her friends in nature.

Yuliya never had a loving family, she did not feel parental care, so she could not believe that someone could really love and appreciate her. The knowledge of the Creator from the Bible melted her heart and helped to get answers to her questions about the meaning of life. In 1999, she became a Christian.

The criminal prosecution had a negative impact on Yuliya's health. Friends are worried and worried about her, because they do not understand why a decent and honest person, always ready to help, is accused of extremism.

Case History

In April 2021, security forces searched 17 addresses of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Tula and Kireevsk. In March of the same year, the FSB opened a criminal case against Gurami Labadze, Yevgeny Godunov, Angela Putivskaya and Yulia Popkova against each on charges of extremism. The investigation considered it a crime to “organize religious speeches” and “carry out preaching activities.” After searches and interrogations, Gurami was placed under house arrest, and Angela, Yulia and Yevgeniy were placed in a pre-trial detention center. A month later, they were also placed under house arrest. Later, all were replaced by a measure of restraint on their own recognizance. The case went to court in April 2023, and in November the court handed down a sentence: Godunov and Labadze - 6 years and 6 months of suspended imprisonment, Putivskaya and Popkova - 2 years and 6 months of probation.