The Eighth Supreme Court in the Kemerovo region has upheld a prior ruling that dissolved the Church of the Last Testament, also known as the Vissarion Community, and removed it from the register of legal entities. This decision confirms the actions taken by the first-instance court and aligns with the ongoing efforts by regional authorities to address what officials described as unlawful organizational practices. The Krasnoyarsk District Prosecutor’s Office reported the outcome through its press service as part of the official communications surrounding the case. The development signals a clear stance by prosecutors and regional judges against activities they view as violating established civil and legal norms.
Earlier, in October, the Krasnoyarsk District Court moved to liquidate the organization by striking it from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities. This mark of liquidation followed extensive review by the court and is part of a broader pattern of state actions aimed at ensuring organizational accountability and public safety within the region. Prosecutors argued that dissolving the entity serves to protect the rights of citizens who may have been affected by the group’s operations and to prevent further potential harm associated with the organization’s activities.
According to the court’s public statements, the arguments presented by the complainants were deemed unpersuasive, and the prosecutor’s office claimed it had safeguarded the rights of residents while ensuring the orderly liquidation of illegal facilities located in the Kuraginsky district. The outcome underscores the persistence of authorities in pursuing compliance with the law and in taking decisive steps when evidence suggests that activities could threaten public welfare or individual safety.
The timeline of the case traces back to September 2020 when leaders associated with the Last Testament Church, including Sergei Torop, who identifies himself as Vissarion, along with Vadim Redkin and Vladimir Vedernikov, were detained in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Investigators allege that the group collected funds from followers and employed psychological coercion that resulted in serious bodily harm. These allegations formed a core part of the charges scrutinized by investigators and prosecutors as the case moved through the judicial process. The severity of the accusations contributed to the scrutiny of the organization’s governance, finances, and influence over adherents, and the authorities pursued a legal remedy that would address these concerns comprehensively.
Originating in 1991, the Church of the Last Testament grew under the leadership of Sergei Torop, who takes the name Vissarion. In 1995, followers established a settlement in the Kuraginsky district, commonly referred to as the city of the Sun. Additional community members resided in several settlements across the Kuraginsky and Karatuzsky districts in the southern portion of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The historical development of the movement and its geographic footprint provide context for the scale of the organization’s presence in the region and the scope of the legal and administrative actions involved in its dissolution. The case highlights how regional authorities respond to concerns about religious groups and other civil society organizations when their activities intersect with public safety, legal compliance, and the rights of individuals involved.
In related developments, there were reports that a former Protestant pastor associated with the case was named as a person of interest in relation to discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. This note reflects the broader political and legal environment in which the case unfolded, illustrating how broader national matters can intersect with local judicial proceedings and investigations involving controversial religious movements. The overall sequence of events demonstrates a coordinated effort by prosecutors, courts, and regional agencies to apply legal remedies when necessary to protect citizens and maintain order within the jurisdiction.