Biography
In August 2023, Ekaterina Demidova became accused in a criminal case only because of her faith.
Ekaterina was born in December 1956 in the city of Ichnya (Ukraine) in a hardworking family. Her parents worked on a collective farm.
In her youth, Ekaterina was fond of skiing, took pride of place in competitions and received certificates. After school, she entered a technical school of public catering in the Crimea, and after graduation she stayed there to work on distribution.
In the late 1990s, Catherine became acquainted with Bible teachings. From the Holy Scriptures, she learned about the qualities of God. It touched her heart, and in 2005 she decided to become a Christian.
The criminal prosecution had a negative impact on the health of Ekaterina and her husband. Her husband does not share her religious beliefs, but treats them with respect. He worries about his wife and does not understand why she is being persecuted.
Case History
In November 2022, mass searches of believers took place in the Simferopol district of Crimea, as a result of which a criminal case was initiated. Aleksandr Voronchikhin was interrogated and a recognizance agreement was taken from him. The Investigative Committee accused him of organizing the activity of an extremist organization, calling peaceful meetings for worship a crime. In August 2023, new searches took place in Armyansk, Simferopol and Saki, including at the homes of Voronchikhin’s son-in-law, Dmitry Zakharevich. He, as well as Aleksandr Kopylets, Ekaterina Demidova and several other Jehovah’s Witnesses became suspects in the case. Later, the cases of four believers were separated from their case into separate proceedings. Zakharevich and Kopylets spent more than 8 months under house arrest, after which they were released on their own recognizance. In November 2023, the case went to court, but was later returned to the prosecutor. After 7 months, the retrial of the case in court began.
