First Jehovah’s Witness woman sentenced in Russia after faith declared ‘extremist’
The faith group’s spokesman called the ruling ‘a mockery of the rule of law both international human rights law as well as Russia’s constitution.’ Roman Baranovskiy and his mother, Valentina Baranovskaya. Photos courtesy of Jehovah’s Witnesses
February 24, 2021
(RNS) A female Jehovah’s Witness has been sentenced to two years in a Russian prison for practicing her faith, marking the first time the country has imprisoned a woman since a 2017 ruling that declared the faith group “extremist.”
Valentina Baranovskaya, 69, was sentenced Wednesday (Feb. 24) along with her son, Roman Baranovskiy, 46, who received a six-year sentence.