Biography
Criminal prosecution for faith affected three members of the same family at once. Anastasiya Astakhova, a hairdresser from Chita, her husband and sister became defendants in the same case.
Anastasiya was born in Dayakon (Trans-Baikal Territory). When she was about 2, the family moved to Tyrgetui, located about 100 kilometers from Chita. She remembers how much effort her mother put into her ubringing: she taught her to read before school, did a lot of creative things together, made time for games and conversations. Anastasiya's father died when she was very little. Later, her mother remarried and had another daughter, Svetlana.
Anastasiya grew up as a cheerful and creative child. She attended a theater club, as well as a knitting and embroidery club. Anastasiya recalls: "Every evening I knitted to make gifts for my family and friends and, not being able to buy something, I gave everyone knitted napkins, potholders and toys."
After school, she moved to Chita to be trained in a profession. She studied at a hairdressing school during the day, attended web design courses in the evening, and worked at the same time to support herself. Anastasiya became a hairdresser. She loves her job very much: she likes talking to customers and seeing that they are happy with the result of her work.
Questions about God have interested Anastasiya since childhood. "I asked everyone to talk to me about God, angels and what happens after death. I asked my grandmother to teach me how to pray," she said. In 2005, Anastasiya's mother began to read the Bible and her daughter joined her. Anastasiya was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in 2008.
Today, Anastasiya still lives in Chita; she got married in 2021. The couple have their own hairdressing salon, where they both work. They like to do everything together: work, visit the theater, go for walks in the countryside. As Anastasiya says, "we are best friends."
The criminal prosecution became a serious test for Anastasiya and her loved ones. Relatives have taken what has happened hard. Even those who do not share their beliefs are perplexed by the charges and consider it unfair.