On September 5, 2025, the Kurgan City Court imposed a fine of 300 thousand rubles on Irina Kamshilova. It took Judge Denis Cherkasov three months to find the believer guilty of extremism for her religious beliefs.
Irina first faced persecution in 2021, when she was searched. Against the backdrop of persecution, the believer’s already poor health deteriorated: she was diagnosed with leukemia and developed heart disease. In May 2024, Irina’s house was searched again, and a criminal case was initiated against her. “My pension card was blocked, the house where I live was seized, equipment was seized … But the most difficult thing for me was isolation,” said Kamshilova, who was under recognizance agreement until the verdict was passed.
Irina does not agree with the court’s decision. “I am accused of extremism, intolerance, incitement to hatred, disrespect for the right to choose, imposing my point of view,” the believer said in her final statement. — You know, I was like that when I lived without the laws of God. But God… for about 30 years the Bible has been teaching me to show love in practice… I cannot agree with the accusation!”
Irina is grateful to her friends for their support and practical help: someone baked bread for her, someone helped with roof repairs, and so on. The believer herself takes an active life position. “I try to help others,” she says. “During the persecution, I made new friends, and my relationships with old ones strengthened. The realization that difficulties are not forever helps me to endure everything. I treat them as a disease: yes, there are restrictions, but they are temporary.”
Case History
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Lieutenant Colonel of Justice S. G. Ermolaev, senior investigator for particularly important cases of the FSB of Russia in the Kurgan region, initiates a criminal case against a resident of Kurgan, Irina Kamshilova, accusing her of participating in the activities of an extremist organization. The investigation interpreted meetings with friends to discuss biblical topics as a violation of anti-extremist legislation. The Kurgan City Court authorizes a search in the house of Irina Kamshilova. At 6:30 a.m., the law enforcement officers, having knocked down the gate on Kamshilova’s property, invaded her house. They are concentrated in different rooms, so Irina and her daughter have no way to keep track of who is doing what. Electronic devices and personal records were seized from the believer. The investigator, raising his voice, hurries Irina to sign the protocol and tells her that “it is useless to write remarks.” The believer feels sick and squats against the wall waiting for the cardiovascular medicine to take effect. The security forces force Irina to stand up. Irina’s daughter persuades them to wait a little until her mother feels better.After an almost 3-hour search, Irina is taken for interrogation to the FSB department, after which she is asked to sign a not to leave the place. Irina Kamshilova’s case is submitted to the Kurgan City Court for consideration by Judge Denis Cherkasov. About 30 people come to the hearing. Irina Kamshilova expresses her opinion of the charge before the court. She does not admit guilt and says: “All my actions were completely peaceful. The prosecution does not claim that I incited violence or religious hatred or enmity… I had every right to meet to discuss the Bible and to associate.”
