Details of extremism case against believers from the Kuban village revealed

Investigators have charged Vladimir Lepsky from the village of Vyselki with reading aloud the books of Jehovah's Witnesses*. The husband of another defendant, Irina Ushakova, is involved in the case as the organizer of an extremist cell, Yaroslav Sivulsky, a representative of the European Association of Jehovah's Witnesses*, has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that according to investigators, Vladimir Lepsky, Irina Ushakova and Natalia Novoseletskaya had taken part in meetings in order to continue the activities of the banned religious organization "Jehovah's Witnesses* of the Vyselkovsky District".

According to Yaroslav Sivulsky, Vladimir Lepsky, born in 1966, was first prosecuted for his beliefs in February 2022 – then, mass searches were conducted at Jehovah's Witnesses* homes in Kuban (Krasnodar Territory).

"Vladimir met his future wife at work; and they got married in 2005. In 1997, he decided to become a Jehovah's Witness*. Ten years later, his wife followed him," Mr Sivulsky has explained.

"In the spring of 2024, the couple learned about the criminal case and decided to move back to the Krasnodar Territory. The stress of the criminal prosecution affected their health. Vladimir also ended up on the list of extremists and terrorists of the 'Rosfinmonitoring' (Russian Federal Service for Financial Monitoring); his accounts were blocked; and he lost his job," Yaroslav Sivulsky has summed up.

Irina Ushakova was born in Tajikistan in 1974. She has not worked since 2021, as she has a disabled status. In 2004, she became a Jehovah's Witness*. In 2006, Irina married Vitaly, who shares her views on the faith. Together they raised two sons, Mr Sivulsky has explained.

In February 2022, law enforcers conducted a series of searches of Jehovah's Witnesses* in the Krasnodar Territory. Four people, including the 41-year-old Vitaly Ushakov, became suspects in the case of organizing the activities of an extremist organization.

"Later, criminal cases were opened against the spouses. Vitaly spent seven months at the SIZO (pre-trial prison); then he was transferred to house arrest. At the same time, according to Irina, the persecution only brought the family closer together. Persecutions have negative impacts on Irina's health; she is registered at the oncology centre," Mr Sivulsky has explained.

*396 Russian organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses are recognized as extremist, and their activities in Russia are banned by court's decision.