Name: Popova Rimma Mukharbievna
Date of Birth: August 22, 1968
Current status: defendant
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1.1), 282.2 (2)
Time spent in prison: 1 day in a temporary detention facility, 60 day Under house arrest
Current restrictions: prohibition of certain actions

Biography

Rimma Popova, a resident of Cherkessk with a good reputation among colleagues, friends, and neighbors, was prosecuted in a criminal case in October 2023 for her belief in Jehovah God.

Rimma was born in August 1968 in the village of Psyzh (Karachay-Cherkessia). Her father and mother worked as cooks. Rimma was the only child in the family. The parents have passed away.

As a child, Rimma went to a music school, and also did gymnastics. After school, she completed accounting courses. She worked as a cashier and later as a cook. Until house arrest, Rimma worked as a housewife in a private medical clinic.

Her parents were religious people and instilled religious values in their daughter from childhood. Once, as an adult, Rimma watched a movie about Jesus Christ, which touched her to the depths of her soul. After some time, the woman met Jehovah's Witnesses, they introduced her to the Bible. The knowledge she acquired, as well as her love for God and appreciation for him, prompted her to embark on the Christian path in 2012.

Rimma is divorced and has two adult children, a daughter and a son who lives with her. In her leisure time, the woman likes to walk in nature, she is also still fond of music.

The criminal prosecution caused stress and affected the health of the believer, which causes anxiety for her children. They do not understand how their mother, whom everyone respects and appreciates, could be accused of extremism.

Case History

In October 2023, 55-year-old Rimma Popova from Cherkessk was charged with extremism. For talking about the Bible with a local resident, she is accused of involvement in the activities of a banned organization and participation in it. Earlier, in June of the same year, Rimma’s house was searched, after which the woman was placed in a temporary detention center for one day, then sent under house arrest for 2 months. Taking into account the state of health of the believer, the judge softened her measure of restraint to prohibit certain actions. In April 2024, the case went to court.