Searches and Interrogations of Female Believers in Nizhny Novgorod. Criminal Case is Opened

On February 13, 2026, in Nizhny Novgorod, security forces conducted searches at the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses and interrogated four women. One of them is unable to walk on her own, and her daughter had to take her to the Investigative Committee in a wheelchair. During the interrogation, the elderly woman learned that she had been under surveillance since 2023.

The investigative actions were carried out as part of a criminal case opened on February 9, 2026, against Lidiya Starostina, a 70‑year‑old believer. During the searches, electronic devices were seized, and in one instance even a Wi‑Fi router. The women were questioned at the Investigative Committee office and then released.

In the Nizhny Novgorod Region, 25 Jehovah's Witnesses have already faced criminal prosecution, including four married couples.