KRASNOYARSK PROSECUTOR FILES SUIT FOR LIQUIDATION OF CHURCH OF THE LAST TESTAMENT
by Aleksei Kobelev
Rossiiskaia Gazeta, 25 September 2020
On the basis of an inspection, the prosecutor's office of Krasnoyarsk territory sent to a court a lawsuit requesting the liquidation of the religious organization "Church of the Last Testament." As reported in the press service of the office of prosecutor general of the Russian Federation, the basis for submitting a lawsuit was incidents discovered in the course of an inspection that involved experts. Thereby it was established that the goal of said religious organization is "joint professing and dissemination of a united faith revealed to mankind by Vissarion in the form of the Last Testament."
Judging by the conclusions of the experts, the materials of this "church" contain certain recommendations, which in reality infringe the right to life, liberty, and inviolability of the individual, and also the rights to freedom of conscience, education, defense of the family, maternity and childhood, protection of health, and medical care. For example, they encourage people to disregard the accepted norms of marriage.
"Instances were established of causing harm to the psychological health of devotees of the religious movement by means of suppressing attempts to reveal one's own thoughts, desires, needs, and aspirations under threat of social disgrace, the formation of persistent feelings of guilt, and expulsion from the community," the report of the office of the Russian prosecutor general says.
Proceeding from this, the prosecutor's staff came to the conclusion that the activity of this organization threatens the interests of society and the state. This becomes the basis for its prohibition within the framework of the federal law "On freedom of conscience and religious associations."
The statement of the claim of the prosecutor's
office was
sent to the Krasnoyarsk territorial court. In the course of the
administrative
process, the question will be resolved not only of the liquidation
of the local
religious organization "Church of the Last Testament," but also of
its removal from the Uniform State Register of Legal Entities.
(tr. by PDS,
posted 25 September 2020)
Background article:
Law
enforcement moves against Russian sect in Siberia
September 23, 2020
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