Russian law enforcement officers carried out searches targeting followers of Scientology in at least ten regions on October 15. The investigative actions are connected to a criminal case involving the activities of an organization designated “undesirable” in Russia.
According to the SOVA Research Center, searches took place in ten regions. Novaya Gazeta Europe, citing REN TV, reported investigative actions in more than ten regions.
Published video footage shows searches of apartments and offices involving police and OMON riot police, as well as detentions.
The searches were conducted as part of a case under Article 284.1 of Russia’s Criminal Code, which covers organizing or participating in the activities of a foreign or international organization designated “undesirable.”
Russian media, citing law enforcement sources, also reported that investigators were examining the activities of organizations linked to Scientologists and the alleged use of public projects to recruit new followers. Those claims had not been independently verified at the time of publication.
Federal law enforcement agencies had not published a full list of the regions where searches were conducted or the total number of people detained or named as suspects in the case.
In 2021, Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office designated two organizations associated with Scientology — the L. Ron Hubbard Library and the World Institute of Scientology Enterprises — as “undesirable.” Different organizations within the Scientology movement, however, have different legal statuses in Russia.