Russia: Police reportedly search Scientology church offices in Moscow, St. Petersburg
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 21 June 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russia: Police reportedly search Scientology church offices in Moscow, St. Petersburg, 21 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a43bf66.html [accessed 4 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
June 21, 2016
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) and municipal police have reportedly searched offices of the Church of Scientology in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Law enforcement sources were quoted by several Russian news agencies on June 21 as saying the searches were part of an investigation into allegations of "illegal entrepreneurship."
However, there was no official confirmation of the investigation.
In November, a court in Moscow ruled that the Church of Scientology Moscow must close because it had been registered as a trademark rather than as a religious organization.
Scientologists have been trying to appeal the ruling at the Russian Supreme Court.
The Church of Scientology was founded in 1954 on the basis of a controversial collection of religious and philosophical teachings by the late American science fiction writer L. Ronald Hubbard.
Based on reporting by RIA Novosti, TASS, and Interfax
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
