Maria Portnyagina

A resident of Blagoveshchensk. In July 2021, Portnyagina was charged with participation in the activities of an extremist organisation because of her involvement with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Representatives of this community are prosecuted under extremist articles solely for religious activities: meetings, joint worship services, attracting new supporters. They have signed a recognizance not to leave. On 6 December 2024 Portnyagina was sentenced to two years and two months of forced labour.