Updated: March 28, 2024
Name: Galaktionova Lyubov Aleksandrovna
Date of Birth: July 14, 1942
Current status: convicted person
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2)
Current restrictions: Suspended sentence
Sentence: punishment in the form of 2 years of imprisonment, with restriction of liberty for a term of 9 months, the main punishment in the form of imprisonment is considered conditional with a probationary period of 4 years

Biography

Law enforcement facilities of Vladivostok initiated criminal cases against six elderly women, including Lyubov Galaktionova. The pensioner was accused of extremism only because of her religion.

Lyubov was born in Vladivostok during the war, in the summer of 1942. She has lived in this city all her life. Lyubov was the only child in the family. She received the got of a secretary-typist and worked in this profession until her retirement.

In 1962, Lyubov got married and had a son. Unfortunately, after 14 years of marriage—in 1976—her husband passed away. She had to raise and raise my son alone.

“Over the years,” Lyubov shares her memories, “I began to ask myself questions: what is the meaning of life? Why do people die?” By reading the Bible, she found answers to them and received comfort.

Due to health problems, Lyubov is on the II disability group, but she is supported by communication with fellow believers and conversations on spiritual topics.

The unjustified criminal prosecution to which Lyubov was subjected undermined her health. Her son is worried about her. Although he does not share her religious views, he knows for sure that his mother is a good person and does not deserve such treatment.

Case History

In April 2018, the Federal Security Service of Russia for the Primorye Territory opened a criminal case against Jehovah’s Witnesses from Vladivostok. Believers were searched. Valentyn Osadchuk spent 9 months in pre-trial detention and 77 days under house arrest. In April 2019, he was accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization, and 6 elderly women — Lyubov Galaktionova, Nailya Kogai, Nina Purga, Nadezhda Anoykina, Raisa Usanova and Yelena Zayshchuk — were accused of participating in it. Soon the case was received by the Leninsky District Court, but a month later the judge returned it to the prosecutor. This decision was upheld twice by the appellate court. Since January 2021, the case has been re-examined in the same court by Maksim Anufriev. With regard to Zayshchuk, the case was suspended due to her advanced age and state of health. In May 2022, the prosecutor requested a sentence of 6.5 years in prison for Valentin Osadchuk, and a 5-year suspended sentence for women. In June, the court sentenced the believers to suspended sentences ranging from 2 to 6 years. In September 2022, the appeal upheld the verdict.