MOSCOW PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE CONFIRMS ACCUSATION IN CASE OF "GOD KUZYA"
The prosecutor's office of Moscow confirmed the indictment in the criminal case against "God Kuzya" for creation of a sect and fraud, the press service of the prosecutor general's office of the Russian federation reported.
"The prosecutor's office of the city of Moscow confirmed the indictment in the criminal case against a 40-year-old native of Moscow province who is accused of committing the crimes specified by the article 'Creation of a noncommercial organization that infringes the person and rights of citizens or of a religious association whose activity involves violence against citizens and other damage to their health, along with leadership of such an association, with the propaganda of actions,' and by the article 'Fraud of an especially great degree committed by organizing a group,'" the report of the agency says.
According to the report, in order to commit the
crimes,
after dressing in the garb of a clergyman "he proclaimed himself
to be
Vladyka Roman, 'the God Kuzya,'" [legal name: Andrei Yurievich
Popov--tr.]
It is noted that five of Popov's accomplices also are charged on the basis of the articles "Participation in the activity of a noncommercial organization, that infringes the person and rights of citizens or a religious association whose activity involves violence against citizens and other damage to their health, with the propaganda of actions," and "Fraud of an especially great degree, committed by an organized group."
The investigation established that in September 2007 the accused created a sect whose activity is associated with causing damage to the health of citizens. He also drew into the leadership of the sect a number of persons, whom he informed of his intentions.
"The accomplices formed an organized criminal group that, under the pretext of conducting religious rituals and acquiring religious paraphernalia, prayers, literature, liturgical objects, and constructing a church, stole financial resources of seven million rubles," the report adds.
It is explained that the accused are being held
in custody
and are under a written order not to depart. In addition, the
proceedings
include criminal cases against other collaborators in the crime.
After delivery
of the indictment the case will be sent for consideration in the
Presnya
district court of Moscow. (tr. by PDS, posted 27 November 2017)
Background article:
Moscow
police act against exotic religious group
September 10, 2015
Weird Orthodox sect still active in Moscow
May 14, 2014
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