Name: Nekrasova Lidiya Semenovna
Date of Birth: January 7, 1953
Current status: defendant
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2)
Current restrictions: recognizance agreement

Biography

In March 2021, a criminal case was initiated against Lydiya Nekrasova, a peaceful pensioner from Syktyvkar, under an extremist article only because she is a Jehovah's Witness.

Lydiya was born in January 1953 into a family of believing parents. Her elder brother was then 18. The girl was taught to be hardworking. From the 5th grade, together with the workers, she mowed the grass at the state farm, raked hay, and helped with everything that was asked.

Since childhood, Lydiya loved to ski and play outdoor games, especially volleyball. After graduation, she worked for some time as a primary school teacher, and later as a nurse, until her retirement. Lydiya has three adult sons. Her husband passed away in February 2024.

Lydiya began to study the Bible in the early 1990s after being shown in this book the qualities of God: "merciful, compassionate, patient, reliable, and devoted to love." In the Bible, she found convincing answers to her questions. She said: "I learned to consider my husband's feelings and treat him with respect. As a result, we were able to resolve conflict situations without raising our voices or scandals. Our family relationship only grew stronger. And when talking to children, I apply the advice: "Everyone needs to be willing to listen, not to be in a hurry to speak, and not to be angry." As a result, they understand that I love them and feel secure and happy."

The criminal prosecution had a serious impact on the health of an elderly woman. Relatives are worried about Lydiya.

Case History

In March 2021, massive searches of Jehovah’s Witnesses took place in Syktyvkar. Sergey Ushakhin, Andrey Kharlamov, Aleksandr Ketov and Aleksandr Kruglyakov were placed in a temporary detention facility. The Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case against them and Lidiya Nekrasova, accusing the believers of organizing the activities of an extremist organization and participating in it. Sergey, 60, a group II disabled person, and Lydia, 68, were under recognizance agreement. Kharlamov and Ketov found themselves under house arrest, and Kruglyakov — in custody for two months. Later, for Ketov and Kruglyakov, the preventive measure was changed to prohibition of certain actions. After a year, the case went to trial. Since the charges were drawn up in violation of the law and no facts of extremism were identified, the judge returned the case to the prosecutor. In January 2023, it was back in court. In August 2023, Sergey Ushakhin’s condition suddenly deteriorated, and he died.
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