In 1949 a Baptist leader in the city of Zaporozh’ye provided local security services with information against five of our sisters, who were then arrested. They were accused of anti-Soviet agitation and were each sentenced to 25 years in prison camps. All their property was confiscated. For seven years until amnesty was granted, they served their terms deep in northern Russia. Lydia Kurdas, one of those sisters, recalls: “We were permitted to write home only two letters per year, and these letters were thoroughly censored. During all that time, we had no literature.” Yet, they remained faithful to Jehovah and continued to preach the Kingdom good news.

Religious Leaders Cooperate With Authorities

In 1949 a Baptist leader in Transcarpathia appealed to the authorities, complaining that the Witnesses were converting his people. As a result, Mykhailo Tilniak, an elder in the local congregation, was arrested and sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment. His wife was left at home with two small children.

Such actions by religious leaders helped sincere people to understand and appreciate the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In 1950 a young Baptist girl, Vasylyna Biben from Transcarpathia, learned that the clergyman of her church had informed the authorities about the activity of two Witnesses in her community. The Witnesses were arrested and sentenced to six years’ imprisonment. After their release, they returned home, yet showed no animosity toward the clergyman. Vasylyna understood that these Witnesses really did love their neighbors. Impressed, she studied the Bible with the Witnesses and was baptized. She says: “I am thankful to Jehovah that I found the way that leads to eternal life.”