Biography
In the spring of 2023, searches were carried out in the towns of Kingisepp and Slantsy, Leningrad Region. Among the believers who were sent to a temporary detention center was Tatyana Stepanova.
She was born in October 1974 in the town of Slantsy. Her mother worked as a German language teacher. Tatyana has an older sister.
After graduating from school, Tatyana worked at a factory. She loved to read classical literature and historical novels. Her aunt introduced her to the Bible, and in 1992 Tatyana decided to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses. She was convinced from personal experience that the principles and advice from the Holy Scriptures can change a person's life for the better.
Because of the criminal prosecution, Tatyana's relatives are worried about her.
Case History
At the end of February 2023, 7 searches were carried out in the cities of Kingisepp and Slantsy (Leningrad Region). The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case under an extremist article against Kirill Khabrik, Igor Zhmyrev and other unidentified persons. Charges were also brought against Andrey Morozov, Sergey Ryabokon and Yevgeniy Poveshchenko. The latter was put under a preventive measure in the form of a written undertaking not to leave, and the rest were placed in a pre-trial detention center, where they spent from 9 to 11 months. At the end of March, searches were again carried out in Kingisepp. 11 other believers were interrogated. Five more people became defendants in the criminal case: Miroslav Sabodash, Igor Shevlyuga, Tatyana Stepanova, Aleksandr Vaganov and Konstantsiya Vovk. They were placed in a temporary detention facility, but soon everyone was released, except for Igor Shevlyuga, who spent a month in a pre-trial detention center. In May 2024, the case went to court.
