Name: Ovchinnikova Lyubov Lukichna
Date of Birth: November 19, 1958
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2), 282.2 (1.1)
Sentence: Imprisonment for a term of 5 years 6 months, with restriction of liberty for a term of 1 year 6 months, imprisonment shall be considered suspended with a probationary period of 3 years

Biography

In May 2022, labor veteran Lyubov Ovchinnikova, who worked as a kindergarten teacher for many years, faced religious persecution. A criminal case was opened against an elderly widow for talking about the Bible.

Lyubov was born in 1958 in the village of Shchelkonogovsky (Sverdlovsk region) in a large family. When she was 6, they moved to live in the village of Knyaze-Volkonskoye (Khabarovsk Territory). Her parents and three brothers are no longer alive, only two elder sisters remain. From a young age, Lyubov was fond of sewing.

Having received a secondary specialized education, Lyubov worked as a kindergarten teacher for about 30 years until her retirement. In retirement, she worked part-time as a cleaner. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, sewing, making various fabric crafts and cooking.

Lyubov got married in 1978 and moved with her husband to live in the village of Miassky (Chelyabinsk region). Later, due to the lack of their own home, the family came back to Knyaze-Volkonskoye. The couple had two sons and a daughter. When Lyubov was 38, she became a widow, and 5 years later, at the age of 21, her eldest son died of a serious illness.

In 1997, Lyubov, carefully studying the Bible, decided to devote her life to serving God. She found solace in the Bible's promises of the resurrection of the dead to life on earth. At that time, she did not even think that 25 years later she would be prosecuted for her faith.

Because of the trial, Lyubov is forced to live in Khabarovsk. The woman began to have health problems. Her relatives worry about her and support her as best they can.

Case History

From April 2020, on the instructions of the FSB, a resident of the village of Knyaze-Volkonskoye began recording conversations about the Bible with Lyubov Kocherova and Lyubov Ovchinnikova. Two years later, a criminal case was initiated against the pensioners for participating in and involving others in the activity of an extremist organization. They were charged with “asking questions on religious topics regarding… understanding the Bible.” In March 2023, the case went to court, and in August of the same year, Kocherova and Ovchinnikova were given a 6-year suspended sentence. In December, the court of appeal overturned the verdict and sent the case back for a new trial, which began in January 2024. After 11 months, the court sentenced the believers to 5 years and 6 months of suspended imprisonment.
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