Updated: March 28, 2024
Name: Sedova Svetlana Grigoriyevna
Date of Birth: June 8, 1969
Current status: Defendant
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2)
Current restrictions: Recognizance agreement

Biography

On November 10, 2018, in Khabarovsk, 30 riot policemen broke into a café where a friendly party was taking place. After breaking down the doors, they staged hours of mass interrogation of those present, including minors, with the seizure of personal property and fingerprinting. Criminal cases were opened against several party participants in connection with their religion. Among them was 49-year-old Svetlana Sedova. What do we know about her?

Svetlana was born in 1969 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. She has a younger brother. Her father died when Svetlana was only 3 years old, she lost her mother at the age of 14. Such an early death of both parents did not break the girl - immediately after school she went to work at a garment factory and three years later was considered the best young worker. Later she was engaged in cleaning offices, mastered the skills of a housekeeper.

Even as a teenager, Svetlana came to the realization that our planet and the Universe should have an intelligent Creator. Svetlana's husband passed away early, but she did not despair because of the next death of a loved one. She raised two sons and a daughter alone. The eldest daughter Julia works as a hairdresser and draws portraits well. Teenage sons love to ride bicycles. Often the whole family can go on a trip and enjoy joint communication. Svetlana's favorite hobby is flower growing.

Svetlana's children are very worried about her criminal prosecution for their faith. Her brother, who does not share her religious views, is trying to understand what is happening. "Why are decent people persecuted?" he wonders.

Case History

Khabarovsk civilians Nikolay Polevodov, Stanislav Kim, spouses Vitaliy and Tatyana Zhuk, Svetlana Sedova and Maya Karpushkina were under investigation after a riot police platoon broke into a friendly party in a café in November 2018. Three men were sent to a pre-trial detention center, and later under house arrest. As a result, the Investigative Committee charged six Jehovah’s Witnesses: men with organizing the activities of an extremist organization, and women with participating in it. The only reason is to believe in Jehovah God and discuss the Bible with friends. 14 months of trials and 20 sessions of the court of first instance revealed the groundlessness of the accusation, and the case was returned to the prosecutor’s office. In December 2021, it went to court again.