Biography
Yelena Menchikova had many hardships in her life: she grew up in an orphanage, worked on the construction of a nuclear power plant, which damaged her health, and in November 2020 she was charged with an “extremist” article. The FSB interprets Yelena’s meetings with friends and peaceful talks about the Bible as "inciting religious hatred" and "recruiting conversations."
Yelena was born in 1964 in the city of Zaporozhye (Ukraine). As a child, she loved drawing and playing volleyball, swimming, cycling and gymnastics. Yelena studied at the boarding school, then got a job in a project organization as a surveyor. In 1984 she moved to the Ukrainian city of Energodar to work there on the construction of a nuclear power plant. A year later, Yelena graduated from the Kharkov Civil Engineering Institute with a degree in architecture. After graduation, she was assigned to Karachay-Cherkessia to work as a design engineer at a cement plant. In 1993, Yelena received the II group of disability. Since 2003 she has been working as an architect.
Once Yelena was an atheist, but the Bible, which was once shown to students by a teacher of scientific communism, aroused her burning interest. In 1993, Yelena’s dream came true - she was able to find this book. At first, Yelena found it difficult to understand it, but later, through thoughtful research, Bible truths became clearer to her. This ancient book answered many of Yelena’s questions: what is the meaning of life? What happens after death? Why is there so much suffering and pain in the world? Yelena also made many new friends among fellow believers.
In her free time, Yelena, as far as her health allows, goes in for sports: swimming, walking in nature. Just like in childhood, she continues to draw. But Yelena’s favorite hobby is reading the Bible and meditating on what she read.
Criminal prosecution has become a heavy burden for the believer, since any stress is contraindicated for her as a disabled person. But, despite the trials, she tries to maintain a positive attitude. An adult daughter and friends are very worried about Yelena, sincerely not understanding why peaceful people in Russia are considered extremists.