OCTOBER 28, 2021
RUSSIA

Eighty-Year-Old Retired Schoolteacher Faces Prosecution for Speaking About the Bible

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Time Line

On November 17, 2021, the Severskiy City Court of the Tomsk Region convicted Sister Yelena Savelyeva and imposed a suspended prison sentence of four years. She is not required to go to prison at this time. The prosecutor had previously requested a fine of 500,000 rubles ($7,198 U.S.) for 80-year-old Yelena
July 22, 2021

The court held an initial hearing
March 25, 2021

Russian prosecutors opened a criminal case against Yelena. She is accused of “persuading, recruiting, or otherwise inducing a person to participate in the activity of an extremist organization” under Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

The charges are based on the testimonies of two women with whom Yelena shared Bible teachings: an FSB agent and an employee of the Russian National Guard. While feigning interest in the Bible, the women secretly recorded their conversations with Yelena and sent information about her and her fellow believers to law enforcement

Profile

Yelena Savelyeva

Born: 1941 (Katka, Republic of Belarus)

Biography: Grew up in poverty amid the aftermath of World War II. Studied physics and mathematics at university and spent more than 40 years as a schoolteacher before retiring. In 1963, married her husband, Leonid, a nuclear physicist. The couple raised two sons together

Developed an interest in spiritual things as a young person. Often asked God in prayers: “What is my purpose in life? What is it that I can do for you?” Found answers to these questions in the Bible. Baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2002

Personal Comments

How have you been able to overcome discouragement during this trial?

When I read the indictment against me, I was shocked. It dealt me such a blow! That expression—“criminal”—really cut me right to my core. It would have been easy to become discouraged after reading such an indictment. However, we must remember: “The one who has endured to the end will be saved.”—Matthew 10:22.

What help have you received from your brothers and sisters during this time?

When the court hearings take place, generally it is our sisters who come to the courthouse. Typically, anywhere from 12 to 18 people show up to support those who have been named as defendants. They also came to support me. They talked with and encouraged me, and they shared Bible verses with me. In short, they told me not to be afraid, that they were with me, and that they would pray for me. It was so delightful to realize that they love me and that they were asking God for me to be successful. For me, help like that is so valuable.

We take courage from Yelena’s determination to remain firm in the face of persecution. We are confident that Jehovah takes note of all those ‘striving side by side for the faith of the good news, and in no way being frightened by their opponents.’—Philippians 1:27, 28.

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