Name: Rumyantseva Yelena Pavlovna
Date of Birth: May 21, 1972
Current status: defendant
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2)
Current restrictions: recognizance agreement

Biography

Yelena Rumyantseva had not yet had time to recover from the tragic events in her family, when in February 2022, a criminal case was opened against her, as well as against her daughter Vasilina, for her faith, accusing them of extremism.

Yelena was born in May 1972 in the village of Otradnaya, Krasnodar Territory. The father of the family was a sailor, the mother was a merchant. Later, the family moved to Sakhalin. Yelena is the eldest child; Her brother died at a young age, her sister has a disability.

As a child, Yelena was fond of dancing and photography. She also loved to sew, and this determined the choice of profession: the girl studied at the training and production plant as a master of sewing outerwear and began working as a seamstress.

In 2000, Yelena married Mikhail, after which the family moved to Norilsk, and in 2007 to the Krasnodar Territory to be closer to Yelena's parents. Mikhail and Yelena with a daughter loved to go out into nature with tents.

In 2006, after a thorough study of the Bible, Yelena decided to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses. She was impressed by the opportunity to develop a close relationship with God and unity among fellow believers from different countries. Later, Yelena's daughter, Vasilina, joined her.

Unfortunately, in 2019, Mikhail died, and two years later, due to oncology, Yelena's father, whom she cared for for 2 years until her death, passed away. Despite the grief experienced, the woman remains active and hospitable; she enjoys cooking and listening to music, as well as spending time with friends.

"Criminal prosecution has divided our lives into before and after," Yelena said. "I cannot work at full strength, move freely, and the health of my mother, whom I take to the city for examinations, depends on it. My relatives are at a loss why I am accused of separating families if I have been caring for a disabled mother for seven years."

Case History

In February 2022, a wave of searches took place in the Krasnodar Territory, affecting at least 51 people. Among them was a believer from the village of Vyselki, Yelena Rumyantseva, and her daughter Vasilina Penskaya. In June 2023, a criminal case under an extremist article was opened by the Investigative Committee against Rumyantseva. The investigation considered it a crime to “participate in religious teaching and sermons … conversations and religious discussions.” Six months later, the case was sent to court. In June 2024, the case was transferred to another judge, in connection with which a new trial began.