Russian Government Bans Satanism

MOSCOW — On Wednesday, the Russian Supreme Court designated the “International Satanism Movement” as an extremist organization, banning its activities nationwide, effective immediately, with a one-month appeal period, per RBC.

The closed-door ruling, led by Judge Oleg Nefedov, who previously banned the international LGBT movement in 2023, remains undisclosed in detail.

The Prosecutor General’s office accused the movement of promoting extremism, church destruction, and crimes, including ritual murders and offenses against minors. It linked Satanism to radical nationalism and neo-Nazism, citing extremist publications and occult rituals.

The ban targets both registered and unregistered groups, including the Satanic Temple, founded in 2012 with over 10 million global followers, and groups like the Temple of Set and Anton LaVey’s Church of Satan.

Religious scholar Igor Ivanishko noted the Satanic Temple’s radicalization in Russia, alleging its members’ involvement in anti-Russian acts, including arson and sabotage, and support for Ukrainian nationalist battalions.

The Prosecutor General’s office labeled the Satanic Temple undesirable in December 2024. The ban also mandates marketplaces to remove products with Satanic symbols, such as inverted crosses, Baphomet medallions, and Latin-inscribed pendants glorifying Satan.

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