Prosecutors have opened a criminal case against a Scientology center in the town of Shchyolkovo, 13 kilometers northeast of Moscow, on charges of inciting hatred, punishable with up to five years in prison.
In April, works by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard were added to a federal list of extremist materials on the decision of a Siberian court, which de facto rendered all Scientology centers open to prosecution.
The court’s decision slammed Hubbard’s books as inciting social and religious hatred, justifying violence, especially toward opponents of Scientology, and promoting anti-state views.