The Supreme Court of Russia has officially banned the so-called International Satanist Movement, designating it as an extremist organization and outlawing its activities across the country.
The decision followed a case brought forward by the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Ministry of Justice, with strong backing from the Russian Orthodox Church and lawmakers who have long pushed for such restrictions.
According to the ruling, the general principles of Satanism, as well as the performance of occult rituals, are now prohibited within Russia. The Prosecutor General’s Office described the ruling as a victory for “legal forces” in what it called the “eternal struggle between good and evil.”
However, critics have raised doubts about the existence of an organized “International Satanist Movement,” arguing that the ban may serve as a tool for suppressing dissent and targeting marginalized groups. Human rights observers have also expressed concern that the ruling could lead to arbitrary arrests and further restrict religious and artistic freedoms.
The ban is part of a wider trend in Russia of outlawing groups and ideologies considered contrary to state-approved values, including previous crackdowns on LGBTQ+ activism and certain religious and cultural movements.
