DEVOTEES OF "NEW GENERATION" SECT ARRESTED IN SIX RUSSIAN REGIONS
Widespread arrests of pastors and devotees of the "New Generation" religious movement (an organization that is considered undesirable on the territory of the R.F.) were conducted by security forces in six regions. The sect collected from its followers donations for Ukrainian nazi formations and the leader of the movement promoted American foreign policy interests.
The early visit by security forces did not at all surprise the bishop, as he styles himself, Nikolai Ulitin. He literally alleged that in his teaching he violated all bounds. The "New Generation" international Christian movement, in which Ulitin is by far not the last person, is considered in Russia to be an undesirable organization. From the start, adherents frankly called for the violent overthrow of the governments of various countries, and now they have begun collecting donations for Ukrainian nazi formations, which are forbidden in the R.F.
During the searches in Ulitin's home were found dozens of volumes of religious literature, certification of a clergyman, the passport of a Ukrainian citizen, dollars, and euros. Where the wealth came from became clear in another place where officers visited. In Pastor Ulitin's church in the village of Poltavsk was a "rehabilitation center," a small room with bunk beds and cages. In these barracks patients supposedly were cured of alcohol and drug dependency. Apparently not for free: a person signed his property over to the "church."
The "New Generation" religious movement was created by Aleksei Lediaev at the start of Perestroika. Because of his radical views he was denied entry into Russia, Armenia, Belorussia, and Kazakhstan. Although Lediaev is a regular guest in the U.S.A. He meets with congressmen and local rights advocates. In his literary works, which are considered extremist, he says frankly that it is necessary to seize power in countries of the postsoviet space and then place them under American rule. Now his sermons have new contents: it is supposedly necessary to aid Ukrainian armed formations, and then the road into paradise will be secured.
Now leaders of "New Generation" cells have
been
arrested and investigators are working with them. How many
donations for nazi
formations the devotees of the movement have managed to collect
is yet to be
calculated. Agents are carefully examining the accounting
documents. (tr. by
PDS, posted 15 August 2022)
SEARCHES AND ARRESTS CONDUCTED IN "NEW GENERATION" CHURCHES IN RUSSIA
On 14 August, Russian security personnel conducted searches in groups belonging to the "New Generation" churches, the Christian megaportal InVictory reports, citing sova-center.ru.
On 14 August 2022 were reported searches among members of the "New Generation" church, which were conducted in several regions in a criminal case based on article 284.1 of the Criminal Code of the R.F. (conducting the activity of a foreign or international nongovernmental organization, with respect to which a decision has been made ruling its activity to be undesirable on territory of the R.F.).
In particular, searches were conducted in Moscow, Kemerovo, Novosibirsk, Cheliabinsk, Sochi, and Krasnodar.
During the searches, religious literature and computer technology were seized.
According to information from Kemerovo pastor Andrei Matiuzhov, at least two persons were arrested.
RIA Novosti published a video in which security agents conducting the search forced the owner of the house to lie face down, frightening his child.
Many news media in reporting the searches call "New Generation" a "sect," which supports the "Azov" Ukrainian battalion, which is banned in Russia.
We recall that in 2021, the office of the prosecutor general ruled that the activity of four "New Generation" organizations that were based in Latvia and Ukraine was undesirable on the territory of the R.F. In December 2021, security personnel broke up a pastors conference in Ramen that was organized by Russian Pentecostals, after which many of its participants were held accountable under article 20.33 of the Code of Administrative Procedure of the R.F. (participation in the activity of a foreign or international nongovernmental organization, with respect to which a decision has been made finding its activity undesirable on the territory of the Russian Federation).
On 23 August 2021, the office of the prosecutor general of the Russian Federation ruled the activity in Russia of four "New Generation" religious organizations based in Latvia and Ukraine to be undesirable. This decision means that the named organizations will not be able to create on Russian territory its subdivisions and the activity of already existing organizations must cease.
In his response, which he called "They fear; it means they respect. Comeback in USSR," Aleksei Lediaev called this draft law criminal, violating all constitutional norms of human rights, freedom of speech, and freedom of religious confession.
Some churches of the "New Generation"
movement in
Russia are members of the Russian Associated Union of Christians
of Evangelical
Faith (Pentecostals) (ROSKhVE). The ruling bishop of ROSKhVE,
Sergei
Riakhovsky, called the decision by the office of prosecutor
general to ban
"New Generation" clearly excessive. "Ruling the activity of a
religious organization to be undesirable is a very serious
precedent. It is
understandable when we are talking about various extremist
groups in Islam, but
in this case we are talking about European protestant unions.
Their statements
and doctrines may be disputable, but protestant churches do not
train
terrorists and extremists. (tr. by PDS, posted 15 August 2022)
PASTOR OF "CHRIST THE SAVIOR" PENTECOSTAL CHURCH ARRESTED IN MOSCOW
Nikolai Ulitin was sent to the SIZO until 30 September
The Basman court of Moscow sent the pastor of the church of the local religious organization "Church of Pentecostal Christians of Evangelical Faith, Nikolai Ulitin, to a pretrial detention unit (SIZO) until 30 September. As the court press service explained to TASS, Ulitin was charged with arranging the activity of a foreign or international nongovernmental organization, with respect to which a decision has been made to rule it undesirable on the territory of Russia.
"By order of the Basman district court of Moscow, until 30 September the measure of restriction for Nikolai Vasilevich Ulitin is detention in custody. He is charged with committing the crime specified in part 3 of article 284.1 of the Criminal Code of the R.F. ('Arranging the activity of a foreign or international nongovernmental organization, with respect to which a decision has been made to find its activity undesirable on the territory of the Russian Federation, in accordance with legislation of the R.F.'). The sanction of the article provides for a punishment of up to six years incarceration," the news agency's source said. (tr. by PDS, posted 16 August 2022)
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