Galina Komissarova with her friends in front of the Samara Regional Court building
Appeal Upheld Suspended Sentence for Teacher from Tolyatti for Reading Bible
Samara RegionOn November 1, 2024, the Samara Regional Court upheld the sentence of 63-year-old Galina Komissarova: 2 years suspended. The prosecutor insisted on a real term for a pensioner from Tolyatti.
Speaking before the appeals panel of judges, Galina Komissarova expressed her disagreement with the accusation: "I only participated in worship services that do not contain signs of extremism and, therefore, are not a crime ... I have only a sense of pain and regret for the injustice of the grave accusation brought against me." Galina considers what is happening to her to be political repression.
Religious persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Samara region continues despite the clarifications of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation on freedom of conscience and religion.