Believers’ Wedding Ceremony Became an Event for the Detention Center in the Town of Anzhero-Sudzhensk. How Religious Persecution Breaks the Lives of Innocent People

One of Jehovah's Witness Yuriy Usanov, 29, of the town of Tayga, had his pleasant pre-wedding troubles suddenly ended when he was taken to the penitentiary in April 2021 for his faith. His fiancée, Irina Yagunova, was long denied visitation until they were married on September 9, 2021 - right in the jail.

Their wedding Yuriy and Irina originally planned for July 17, 2021. It was to be a long-awaited and joyful event for them, as well as for their families and friends. However, on April 2, Yuri suddenly stopped getting in touch. When his friends arrived, they found the window in his house broken and the bars cut off. It turned out that Yuriy was detained on charges of organizing the activities of a banned organization, as he had been discussing the texts of the Bible with his friends via video link. His house was searched and he has been behind bars ever since.

What happened was a real test for both Yuriy and Irina. The girl was told that she had no right to visits since she was a potential witness in the case. Nevertheless, Irina and Yuriy managed to get permission to register their marriage right in the detention center. On the day of the wedding, friends and relatives came to the building of the pre-trial detention center with flowers, air balloons, and in holiday clothes. Irina was also dressed as a bride. Only she, her parents, and a registrar were allowed inside. The spouses were not allowed to stay together after the wedding. Photography was also forbidden. Now Yuriy remains in the pre-trial detention center, and Irina is at home and is looking for a meeting with her husband in her new status.

Some time ago Yuriy was put in solitary confinement, which allows him to quietly read the Bible and meditate on its pages. He is grateful to everyone who writes letters of encouragement to him: at the beginning of September, there were already 1,179 letters from 29 countries. Of course, most of all he enjoys the letters from his wife, who has become a real support for him. According to the court's decision, his current preventive measure must remain in force until at least October 30, 2021.

Legal scholars and human rights activists working for Russian and international organizations consider the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses a legal conflict and are making efforts to end it as soon as possible.