Komissarova case in Tolyatti Galina Komissarova

 RUSSIA

Komissarova case in Tolyatti

Galina Komissarova

Updated: December 4, 2023

Name: Komissarova, Galina Aleksandrovna

Date of Birth: March 27, 1961

Current status: accused

Article of the Russian Criminal Code: 282.2 (2)

Current restrictions: recognizance agreement

Biography

Galina Komissarova, a pensioner from Togliatti, was accused of extremism because of her love for the Bible, a book whose advice at one time helped her save her marriage.

Galina was born in March 1961 in Moscow. Four daughters and a son were born into a large family. His father worked as a service technician at the Likhachev plant in Moscow, and his mother worked as an accountant. Galina's parents and brother are no longer alive.

As a child, Galina loved to read, play with dolls and board games, and also learned to play the piano. After the 8th grade, she graduated from a pedagogical school, receiving a specialty as a kindergarten teacher, and then from the evening department of the Moscow Pedagogical State University named after V.I. Lenin, specializing in preschool pedagogy and psychology. In 1993, she received a second higher education, graduating from the Moscow State Regional Pedagogical Institute with a degree in defectology.

When Galina was 40 years old, Jehovah's Witnesses came to her home and offered to help her study the Bible. She refused, believing that it was better for her to adhere to the traditional religion that her ancestors practiced. Later, she began to wonder what was more important: tradition or the truth about God from the Holy Scriptures. A year later, she decided to research the book, and in 2003, the practicality of the Bible's advice led her to embark on the Christian path. Having studied education and worked in kindergarten for many years, she has seen how approaches to raising children change, while the advice and principles of God, written down several thousand years ago, do not become outdated.

In 1990, Galina married Dmitry from Tolyatti. The family had a son and daughter. Both studied well and attended music school. My daughter graduated from 11th grade with a gold medal for special academic achievements. Now the son works as a programmer, and the daughter works in the medical field. She shares her mother's views. The husband did not interfere with Galina in her desire to live according to Christian principles, although he did not agree with her on this. Unfortunately, he died suddenly of heart disease in 2003.

Galina worked all her life by profession - a teacher, methodologist, speech therapist. Now she is on a well-deserved rest and enjoys walking in nature, chatting with friends, loves to sing and play board games.

Criminal prosecution had a negative impact on the health of the believer. She feels the effects of the stress she suffered and after the search she is forced to constantly take medication.

The son and daughter worry about Galina and support her in every possible way. The sisters are perplexed about how and who might interfere with people studying the Bible. Neighbors, former work colleagues and parents of students do not understand how respectable people can be persecuted. They call Galina, inquire about her affairs and support her. They also wrote her positive references for the trial.

Brief history of the case

On an early September morning in 2023, 62-year-old Tolyatti resident Galina Komissarova was awakened by loud knocks on the door. The Investigative Committee officers, who came to search the woman, informed her that a criminal case had been opened against her for participating in religious services of Jehovah's Witnesses. After the search, Galina was taken for questioning to the local office of the Investigative Committee, after which she was given a written undertaking not to leave.

Timeline

Criminal case

Region:

Samara Region

Locality:

Tolyatti

What is suspected:

“Using secrecy measures, including using a video communication application... took an active part in the form of collective religious worship, consisting of a consistent study and discussion of the religious literature of Jehovah’s Witnesses” (from the decision to bring her as an accused)

Criminal case number:

12302360032000362

Initiated:

September 7, 2023

Current stage of the case:

Indictment under consideration by the prosecutor

Investigates:

Central interdistrict investigative department of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Samara Region

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (2)