Updated: March 28, 2024
Name: Mikhaylova Yelena Valentinovna
Date of Birth: August 9, 1983
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2), 282.3 (1)
Sentence: penalty in the form of a fine in the amount of 560,000 rubles

Biography

Law enforcement agencies in the city of Shuya (Ivanovo region) opened a criminal case against Yelena Mikhailova on charges of extremism. Her husband Dmitriy was also detained and spent six months in a pre-trial detention center. Elena was grieving the forced separation. The investigator also imposed restrictions on Yelena, taking from her a written undertaking not to leave the place. What do we know about her?

Elena Mikhailova was born in 1983 in Shuya. As a child, she was fond of athletics and rhythmic gymnastics. After graduating from school with a medal, she received the specialty of a teacher of physics and mathematics, worked as a tutor in these subjects.

At the age of 9, Yelena was left without a father, and this prompted her to think about spiritual topics: is there a God, what happens to a person after death, why are children left without parents? At the age of 13, she received answers to these questions from the Bible. As a child, Elena tried to imitate the kindness and mercy of Jesus Christ. This did not go unnoticed by her family.

In 2003, Elena married Dmitry, who worked as a system administrator, loved to play the guitar, was fond of photography and electronics. Elena and Dmitry are happy to be in nature, play football.

Yelena's friends and relatives are greatly perplexed by the accusations against her family. Some neighbors, who do not share their religious views, admitted that they pray for them. Other neighbors told the representatives of the investigative committee: "Why did you stick to these saints, exemplary people? If anyone is imprisoned, it is definitely not them.

Case History

Wiretapping, the introduction of a provocateur, hidden video filming in the homes of believers — this began the persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the city of Shuya in the spring of 2017. A year later, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case under three extremist articles against peaceful believer Dmitry Mikhailov. In April and June 2018, the homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses were searched: believers were treated rudely, pressured, and even a 10-year-old girl was interrogated. After the searches, new defendants appeared in the case: Elena Mikhailova, Svetlana Ryzhkova, Svetlana Shishina and Alexey Arkhipov. Dmitry spent 6 months in a pre-trial detention center. In September 2019, the investigator handed over the case to the prosecutor, but a year later he returned it for further investigation. The criminal case went to court in July 2021, but the judge returned it to the prosecutor for revision. The retrial of the case in the same court began in May 2022.