Vladlena Kukavitsa, 35, has been defending her right to freedom of religion for two years, the last 7 months—at a second trial in the Birobidzhan District Court. Judge Olga Klyuchikova made the final decision on January 22, 2026.
The first court sentence (6 years suspended) was overturned by the court of appeal. Vladlena was accused of involving persons in the activities of an extremist organization and participating in it. The case of the believer, like dozens of similar ones throughout the country, was based on the testimony of an informant. Vladlena believes that in her conversations with Zhukova-Suvorova, who turned out to be an embedded agent, there were no manifestations of extremism. The fellowship was friendly and focused on discussing Bible teachings, discussing God’s qualities, and praying. The videos that were viewed in court showed how Vladlena encouraged the woman to show love to others, forgive and not hold a grudge.
After the liquidation of religious organizations and the beginning of actual persecution against Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, Vladlena was overwhelmed with anxiety. “At first, it was difficult. I heard the news: in one place or another, law enforcement officers break into houses, conduct searches and arrest people,” she says. “Sadly, some ended up behind bars. But I saw how they overcame all this. It strengthened me.”
Still, the stress in connection with the criminal prosecution did not go unnoticed. “I was forced to seek medical help repeatedly because criminal prosecution harmed my health. Now I am constantly taking medications,” she said at one of the court hearings.
Vladlena expressed special gratitude to her mother for her support: “She goes all this way with me. She also had to go through searches and interrogation; she always accompanied me when I went to the investigator and waited on the street next to the FSB building while I was there.” In October 2025, a criminal case was also opened against Kukavitsa’s mother, Yelena Shestopalova.
The family of Vladlena Kukavitsa is not the first to be in the focus of attention of the law enforcement officers. In Birobidzhan, eight families are already persecuted for their faith in Jehovah God. This trend has been going on for years.
