Olopova case in Togliatti Sona Olopova

 RUSSIA

Olopova case in Togliatti

Sona Olopova

Updated: September 14, 2023

Name: Olopova, Sona Andranikovna

Date of Birth: April 18, 1987

Current status: defendant

Article of the Russian Criminal Code: 282.2 (2)

Current restrictions: recognizance agreement

Biography

In May 2023, Sona Olopova planned to visit her grandmother in Armenia, whom she had not seen for more than 20 years. But shortly before the trip, her plans were disrupted: law enforcement officers invaded her house with a search. As a result, the woman became a defendant in a criminal case for her belief in Jehovah God.

Sona was born in April 1987 in the city of Charentsavan (Armenia). She has two elder sisters. Their mother worked as a nurse all her life, and their father worked as a dairy foreman at a factory, and also worked as a finisher. Now the parents are retired. 

As a child, Sona loved singing, dancing and spending time with friends. When she was 10, the family moved to Russia, to the city of Chapayevsk (Samara region).

After school, Sona worked in trade. Later, she mastered several professions in the field of beauty and combined the work of a merchandiser with the services of a hairstylist, make-up artist, as well as a master in the design of eyebrows and eyelashes. In addition, recently she has been working as a manicurist.

Sona first heard about Bible teachings from her mother when she was a child. After learning about God's promises and how Bible prophecies were fulfilled, she became interested in the Bible. She was convinced of the practicality of the advice from this ancient book and decided to take the Christian path.

With her future husband, Anatoliy, Sona was familiar from her teenage years. They started dating in 2008 and got married two years later. Sona moved to live with Anatoliy in Togliatti. Her husband shares her views on life. Sona and Anatoliy value their relationship and strengthen family ties by spending a lot of time together: they walk, read, watch movies and like to go hiking with friends.

The search came as a surprise to Sona, and she and her husband experienced stress. During this difficult time, the spouses are helped by the support of friends and family.

Brief history of the case

In May 2023, in Togliatti, employees of the Investigative Committee and the FSB raided the houses of at least three families of believers, including Sona Olopova, against whom a criminal case was opened for her faith. After the interrogation, she was given a written undertaking not to leave the place. In August 2023, the case went to trial.

Timeline

Criminal case

Region:

Samara Region

Locality:

Tolyatti

Criminal case number:

12302360032000242

Initiated:

May 15, 2023

Current stage of the case:

trial in court of first instance

Investigates:

Central interdistrict investigative department for the city of Togliatti of the investigative department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Samara region

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (2)

Court case number:

1-574/2023

Court of First Instance:

Central District Court of Tolyatti

Judge of the trial court:

Tatiana Begunova