Russian Federation bans Scientology, claiming it is not a religion, following decision

During the inspection the Russian Ministry of Justice found out that the word “scientology” had been registered as a trade mark owned by the US Religious Technology Center. Lawyers for the elaborate church said the organization didn’t violate anything, and the ruling was unfounded. The Church of Scientology will be closed down and liquidated. The organization was ordered to set up a commission that has to have its liquidation complete within six months.

The church opened their first branch in Moscow in 1994, and in 2011 moved into an expensive new headquarters, situated just one mile away from the city’s iconic Red Square. A Moscow regional court found in 2012 that the books “seek to form an isolated social group whose members are trained to perform their functions generally aimed against the rest of the world”, Sputnik News reported at the time.

Government officials wanted the church shut down, arguing that because the organisation had tried to register “Scientology” as a trademark it could not, therefore, be a religious body.

“The court upheld what representatives of the Church believe to be a biased policy pursued by the Ministry of Justice toward the Church of Scientology of Moscow”.

The Russian Ministry of Justice said the church raises too much conflict.

The Church of Scientology is viewed as very controversial due to the doctrines as it was founded by a science fiction writer, but is considered a religion in many countries, and people have the right to worship as they choose, which Russian Federation is being criticized for in the decision.

Prominent scientologists include Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and John Travolta.