One More Guility Verdict in the Jewish Autonomous Region. Vladlena Kukavitsa Given 6-Year Suspended Sentence for Talking About God

On April 10, 2025, the Birobidzhanskiy District Court gave Vladlena Kukavitsa a 6-year suspended sentence. Judge Aleksandr Kulikov deemed discussing questions about Christianity to be involving others in "the activity of an extremist organization." Vladlena considers the verdict unjust.

Operational-investigative measures against Kukavitsa began back in July 2022. In February 2024, A. A. Karavaev, FSB investigator for the Jewish Autonomous Region, initiated a criminal case against her for involving others in the activity of an extremist organization. At the same time, her home was searched. A month later, another investigator, Dmitriy Yankin, who had repeatedly initiated criminal cases against Jehovah's Witnesses in the Jewish Autonomous Region, initiated a second case against her, this time for participating in extremist activity. Then both cases were combined into one. Six months later, Vladlena was placed under a recognizance agreement. The prosecutor requested a 7-year suspended sentence for her.

The charge in this case was based on the testimony of a woman named Valeria Suvorova, with whom Vladlena discussed Bible topics. In court, the believer noted that this was instigated by the law enforcement agencies and said: "Valeria Suvorova asked me to continue discussing religious topics with her, pretending that she was interested, that she needed God's comfort and hope for the wonderful future God promises. When I learned that this girl had difficult life circumstances, I sincerely wanted to help her."

Vladlena Kukavitsa works at an ambulance station and has the reputation of being a conscientious worker and a peace-loving person. Her reference from her place of work says that she is polite, non-confrontational, maintains friendly relations with colleagues and has never spoken offensively about other people.

In court, the believer defended herself, and since the hearings were held behind closed doors, none of her relatives could attend the court hearings. Nevertheless, many came to support her at the courthouse. She said what helped her: "While I was in the courtroom, I was very supported and strengthened by the thought that my friends were now waiting for me and soon I would see them and be able to hug them."

At the time of the sentencing of Vladlena Kukavitsa, 26 Jehovah's Witnesses had already been prosecuted in the Jewish Autonomous Region. Half of them are women, all of whom have been given suspended sentences ranging from 2 to 4.5 years.