Russia declares The Satanic Temple undesirable

Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has declared the activities of The Satanic Temple, a U.S.-registered international organization, “undesirable,” according to the agency’s website.

The statement claims that members of the organization “promote occult ideologies” and “use satanic symbols to discredit traditional spiritual and moral values.” It further alleges that The Satanic Temple, with support from the U.S. government, “advocates destructive pseudo-theological ideas and justifies violence against people.” The group is also accused of “actively supporting” members of “extremist and terrorist movements,” speaking “negatively” about the war, “calling for the overthrow of Russia's constitutional order,” and posting information about donations to Ukraine’s Armed Forces on its website.

Founded in 2013 by Harvard University graduates, The Satanic Temple outlines seven core tenets on its website that emphasize compassion, justice, and respect for others’ freedoms.

The group describes its mission as to “encourage benevolence and empathy, reject tyrannical authority, advocate practical common sense, oppose injustice, and undertake noble pursuits.”

The organization has chapters in the United States, Australia, Germany, Canada, and Finland. The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office claims it has over 10 million followers worldwide.