Overview

• The Supreme Court outlawed the International Satanism Movement on Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov’s request, citing alleged church vandalism, occult rituals and ties to radical nationalism.
• Justice Ministry and Prosecutor’s Office have provided only broad definitions like “extremist ideology” and “hostility towards traditional faiths,” without detailing forbidden behavior.
• Heavy metal fans and artists are expressing fear and confusion over whether wearing band merchandise or invoking satanic imagery could lead to criminal charges.
• Observers contend the ambiguous ban advances political and religious objectives by portraying dissenters as mystical threats to national spirituality.
• The decision uses the same generic framework that in 2023 outlawed a non-existent “International LGBT Movement,” underscoring patterns of expansive repression.