PROFILES OF FORMER EXILES

LYDIA BZOVl

In 1927, my father, Konstantin Shobe, found a family of Bible Students (as Jehovah's Witnesses were then called) and became interested in that religion. After he completed his service in the army, he continued to study the Bible in his home village, Zaikan, in Moldavia, and he later became one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

In 1942 and 1943, Father, and then later Mother, were arrested by the Romanian officials. They were accused of being Bolsheviks, since Father refused to fight against the USSR because of his religious beliefs. They were sentenced to 25 years in prison. The three of us-12, 8, and 5 years of age-were left in the care of our aged grandmother. Soon afterward, my brothers-8 and 12 years old-were expelled from school.

In 1944, when the Soviets came to power, my mother and father were released from prison. However, in September 1947, my father was again sentenced to ten years, his belongings were confiscated, and he was exiled to Vorkuta, in the north. This time he was charged with spying on Soviet officials. In 1949, my mother, my two brothers, and I were exiled for "eternal settlement" to Zabaikal, in the Baleisk region, Chitinsk district. In 1952, my older brother Ivan was sentenced for 25 years, and his belongings were confiscated.

At that time, because of refusing to become a komcomol, I faced a lot of pressure in school. School graduates who were Jehovah's Witnesses did not have the opportunity to continue their education, or to work in certain professions. After we became of age, during our mandatory visits to the KGB, we were threatened with prison sentences.

My father was released from prison in 1956; then my brother was let out (before completing his sentence), as were other fellow believers. But soon after, in 1958, my father, along with a group of Jehovah's Witnesses, were again arrested. My father was sentenced to ten years for his religious beliefs.

In 1957, I married Vasilii Bzovi. We have children who are also Jehovah's Witnesses. The years of difficulties have caused health problems, including a back injury. However, I am very happy and thankful for my faith in God and for my loving family and friends.

VASlLII BZOVl

I first met Jehovah's Witnesses in the beginning of the 1940's. By the spring of 1942, my family started to study the Bible with them. At the end of 1942, the Romanian officials arrested my parents for their religious activities and sentenced them to prison for ten years. I was nine years old when I was beaten and expelled from school.

When Soviet power came to Moldavia, my parents were released from prison. However, in 1947, my father was again arrested and was sentenced for eight years, and his belongings were confiscated. He served his full term in the camps near Vorkuta.

In 1949, my mother and I were exiled, along with other fellow believers, to the republic of Buryatia for "eternal settlement." There we were obligated to report to the Special Commandant's office the first and fifteenth of every month.

In August 1951, my mother was arrested again and was sentenced to eight years in prison for her religious activities. In 1954, I received notice of her death. In 1955, my father was released, and later we lived in a special settlement. We did not have the right to travel to another region of the country.

In 1966, the special settlement was closed, but in some form or another, the persecution continued right up until 1985. There were search warrants, confiscation of Bible literature, arrests, interrogations, and fines for one's faith. Even after legal rehabilitation in 1991, it was very difficult to become accustomed to that not happening anymore.

YEKATERINA MARKITAN

In 1943, the Romanian authorities arrested my father and sentenced him to up to 25 years into prison as a Jehovah's Witness, falsely accusing him of Communist activity.

In 1949, when I was 17 years of age, our entire family was sent to the Baleisk region, Chitinsk district. I had to work at cutting and loading trees. At times, the loading seemed to be beyond my strength. In 1952, the searches began, and during them all Bibles and Bible literature were confiscated. The searches were followed by arrests. In 1953, I was sentenced to ten years, with confiscation of my property. However, in 1956 I was released, and I returned to the place of my previous exile.

The attempts to change my religious beliefs continued until close to the end of 1980's. (Jehovah's Witnesses received the registration in Russia in 1991.)

Today, when I remember that I survived the times of repression, and I think about today-when Jehovah's Witnesses can openly conduct their meetings and talk with people about the Bible and God-my eyes fill with tears. But these are tears of joy and thankfulness to God and to those many people who supported me during the difficult times.

SERGEI SHOBE

Born in 1934, Sergei Shobe was exiled with his mother, his sister, and his brother, Ivan. His father had already been sentenced in Moldavia for ten years and was sent to a high security prison in Vorkuta. When Sergei was 16 years old, he worked loading trucks with wood for the Baleiya mines.

After his brother was arrested, Sergei was the only breadwinner of the family. He cared for his sick mother and sister. From time to time, the KGB would call him in. They interrogated him and warned him that when he became of age, he too could be sent to prison. They tried to persuade him to compromise his faith by offering him a well-paying job.

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