Biography
In the spring of 2023, searches were carried out in the towns of Kingisepp and Slantsy, Leningrad Region. Among the believers who were sent to a temporary detention center was Tatyana Stepanova.
She was born in October 1974 in the town of Slantsy. Her mother worked as a German language teacher. Tatyana has an older sister.
After graduating from school, Tatyana worked at a factory. She loved to read classical literature and historical novels. Her aunt introduced her to the Bible, and in 1992 Tatyana decided to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses. She was convinced from personal experience that the principles and advice from the Holy Scriptures can change a person's life for the better.
Because of the criminal prosecution, Tatyana's relatives are worried about her.
Case History
At the end of February 2023, 7 searches were carried out in the cities of Kingisepp and Slantsy (Leningrad Region). The Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case against Kirill Khabrik, Igor Zhmyrev and other unidentified persons under an extremist article. Charges were also brought against Andrey Morozov, Sergey Ryabokon and Yevgeniy Poveschenko. The latter was chosen a restriction measure in the form of a recognizance agreement, and the rest were placed in a pre-trial detention center, where they spent from 9 to 11 months. At the end of March, searches were again carried out in Kingisepp. Eleven other believers were interrogated. Five more people became defendants in the criminal case: Miroslav Sabodash, Igor Shevlyuga, Tatyana Stepanova, Aleksandr Vaganov and Konstantsiya Vovk. They were placed in a temporary detention center, but soon released all but Igor Shevlyuga, who spent a month in the pre-trial detention center. In May 2024, the case went to court, and in December 2025 it was returned to the prosecutor’s office to eliminate procedural errors.
