Latest news with #ChurchoftheLastTestament
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Man Claiming To Be Jesus Christ Is Sent To Russian Prison Camp
A religious sect leader who claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ has been sentenced to 12 years in a Russian prison camp. A court in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk sentenced Sergei Torop, a former traffic officer who called himself "Vissarion," for harming the mental and physical health of his followers. Two of his associates also received lengthy sentences. All three denied charges against them. Torop founded the Church of the Last Testament in 1991 and his group has been the subject of media scrutiny in Russia for years, during which he has attracted thousands of followers. His arrest and sentencing to a tough prison camp will likely mark the end of a sect which had lasted for more than three decades. Torop, 64, founded his movement after what he described as a divine revelation and it grew in popularity during the post-Soviet ideological vacuum of the 1990s. A regular fixture in the Russian media, thousands visited him at remote settlements in Siberia over the years and there was a core group of about 300 living in isolation on a hill they called the Abode of Dawn. He imposed strict rules on his followers, prohibiting them from consuming meat, alcohol, or tobacco, and discouraging the use of money. Followers of Torop's community, including those who came from other regions, lived in several villages in the Kuragan and Karatuz districts of the Krasnoyarsk region. Torop and two other of his sect's leaders, Vladimir Vedernikov and Vadim Redkin, were arrested in 2020 in a helicopter raid that involved Russia's main intelligence service, the FSB. Accused of creating a religious organization that violated the civil rights of its members and caused bodily harm, a criminal case established how between 1991 and 2020 Torop and his associates had used "psychological violence" against followers whom they exploited for money and labor. On Monday, the Zheleznodorozhny District Court in Novosibirsk handed down sentences against the trio for causing "moral harm" to 16 people, leaving six with "serious health problems" and one with "moderate" harm, according to a statement by the regional prosecutor's office. There was also a theft of funds of more than 5 million rubles ($63,000) from the Krasnoyarsk region's budget, the statement added. Russian prosecutor's office said in a statement: "Between 1991 and worked to subordinate other people to his power, by using psychological violence against them, causing harm to their health." The court awarded 45 million rubles ($572,000) in damages to the victims and state prosecutors. The men denied the charges and Torop and Vedernikov got a 12-year sentence while Redkin received 11 years, although it is not clear if they will appeal. Related Articles Ukraine Pulls in US Diplomat Over Trump Aid SurpriseWhile World Watches Iran, Putin Makes Headway in UkraineTrump Reacts as Russia Deploys 50K Troops Near UkraineRussia's Officials Keep Contradicting Putin on War Economy 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Man Claiming To Be Jesus Christ Is Sent To Russian Prison Camp
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A religious sect leader who claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ has been sentenced to 12 years in a Russian prison camp. A court in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk sentenced Sergei Torop, a former traffic officer who called himself "Vissarion," for harming the mental and physical health of his followers. Two of his associates also received lengthy sentences. All three denied charges against them. This image from August 18, 2009 shows Russian sect leader Sergei Torop known as "Vissarion", in the remote village of Petropavlovka, Krasnoyarsk region. This image from August 18, 2009 shows Russian sect leader Sergei Torop known as "Vissarion", in the remote village of Petropavlovka, Krasnoyarsk It Matters Torop founded the Church of the Last Testament in 1991 and his group has been the subject of media scrutiny in Russia for years, during which he has attracted thousands of followers. His arrest and sentencing to a tough prison camp will likely mark the end of a sect which had lasted for more than three decades. What To Know Torop, 64, founded his movement after what he described as a divine revelation and it grew in popularity during the post-Soviet ideological vacuum of the 1990s. A regular fixture in the Russian media, thousands visited him at remote settlements in Siberia over the years and there was a core group of about 300 living in isolation on a hill they called the Abode of Dawn. He imposed strict rules on his followers, prohibiting them from consuming meat, alcohol, or tobacco, and discouraging the use of money. Followers of Torop's community, including those who came from other regions, lived in several villages in the Kuragan and Karatuz districts of the Krasnoyarsk region. Torop and two other of his sect's leaders, Vladimir Vedernikov and Vadim Redkin, were arrested in 2020 in a helicopter raid that involved Russia's main intelligence service, the FSB. Accused of creating a religious organization that violated the civil rights of its members and caused bodily harm, a criminal case established how between 1991 and 2020 Torop and his associates had used "psychological violence" against followers whom they exploited for money and labor. On Monday, the Zheleznodorozhny District Court in Novosibirsk handed down sentences against the trio for causing "moral harm" to 16 people, leaving six with "serious health problems" and one with "moderate" harm, according to a statement by the regional prosecutor's office. There was also a theft of funds of more than 5 million rubles ($63,000) from the Krasnoyarsk region's budget, the statement added. What People Are Saying Russian prosecutor's office said in a statement: "Between 1991 and worked to subordinate other people to his power, by using psychological violence against them, causing harm to their health." What Happens Next The court awarded 45 million rubles ($572,000) in damages to the victims and state prosecutors. The men denied the charges and Torop and Vedernikov got a 12-year sentence while Redkin received 11 years, although it is not clear if they will appeal.
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
‘Siberian Jesus' sentenced to Russian prison after harming followers in bizarre cult
A Siberian cult leader who claims to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ was sentenced to 12 years in a Russian prison camp after his conviction for physically and financially harming his followers. Sergei Torop, a former traffic policeman known to his followers as 'Vissarion,' meaning 'he who gives new life,' and two aides used psychological pressure to extract money from his followers and cause serious harm to their mental and physical health, Reuters reported. Torop, 64, set up the Church of the Last Testament in a remote part of Siberia's Krasnoyarsk region in 1991, the year the Soviet Union broke up. He was one of three men convicted Monday in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk. Torop and Vladimir Vedernikov were sentenced to 12 years, and Vadim Redkin was sentenced to 11 years in a maximum-security prison camp. 4 Vissarion, who has proclaimed himself a new Christ, conducts a service during the 'Holiday of Good Fruit' feast in a village southeast of Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, August 18, 2010. Picture taken August 18, 2010. REUTERS 4 A man looks at a portrait of Vissarion, who has proclaimed himself a new Christ, at its church in the village of Petropavlovka, 580 km (360 miles) southeast of Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, August 16, 2010. REUTERS All three men were arrested in 2020 in a helicopter raid that involved the FSB security service, the successor agency to the Soviet KGB. A bearded self-styled mystic with long hair, Torop claimed to have been 'reborn' to convey the word of God. He attracted thousands of followers, some of whom flocked to live in a settlement known as the 'Abode of Dawn' or 'Sun City' at a time when Russia was battling poverty and lawlessness, according to Reuters. 4 Children of Vissarion community sing during the morning religious service in Petropavlovka village, some 700 kms southeast of Krasnoyarsk, August 18, 2003. REUTERS 4 Vissarion, who has proclaimed himself a new Christ, leads a mass prayer in the village of Petropavlovka, about 580 km (360 miles) southeast of the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk August 17, 2007. REUTERS He told his followers not to eat meat, smoke, drink alcohol or swear and to stop using money. Investigators said the men brought 'moral harm' to 16 people, damage to the physical health of six people and moderate damage to another person's health. Vedernikov had also been accused of committing fraud, the RIA state news agency reported.
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- The Advertiser
'Jesus of Siberia' sect leader jailed for 12 years
A Russian sect leader who claimed he was Jesus Christ reincarnated has been sentenced to 12 years in a prison camp after being convicted of harming his followers' health and financial affairs. Sergei Torop, a former traffic policeman known to his followers as "Vissarion," set up the Church of the Last Testament in a remote but picturesque part of Siberia's Krasnoyarsk region in 1991, the year the Soviet Union broke up. A bearded self-styled mystic with long hair, he claimed to have been "reborn" to convey the word of God and attracted thousands of followers, some of whom flocked to live in a settlement known as the "Abode of Dawn" or "Sun City," at a time when Russia was battling poverty and lawlessness. Torop, 64, told his followers, who regularly intoned prayers in his honour as they looked up to his large hilltop residence, not to eat meat, not to smoke, not to drink alcohol or swear and to stop using money. But the Investigative Committee, Russia's equivalent of the US FBI, accused Torop and two aides of using psychological pressure to extract money from his followers and of causing serious harm to their mental and physical health. In a statement on Monday, a court in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk said it had convicted the three men, sentencing Torop and Vladimir Vedernikov to 12 years and Vadim Redkin to 11 years in a maximum-security prison camp. They were also ordered to pay 40 million roubles ($A782,000) to compensate their victims for "moral damage". All three denied wrongdoing. Torop and the two aides were arrested in a security forces raid by helicopter in 2020 that involved the FSB security service, the successor agency to the Soviet KGB. According to the RIA state news agency, investigators said the men had caused "moral harm" to 16 people, serious damage to the physical health of six people and moderate damage to another person's health. Vedernikov, one of the aides, had also been accused of committing fraud, RIA said. In a 2017 BBC documentary, filmmaker Simon Reeve interviewed Torop, who denied any wrongdoing. The film showed how school girls whose parents were his followers were being educated to be what a local teacher called "future brides for worthy men". A Russian sect leader who claimed he was Jesus Christ reincarnated has been sentenced to 12 years in a prison camp after being convicted of harming his followers' health and financial affairs. Sergei Torop, a former traffic policeman known to his followers as "Vissarion," set up the Church of the Last Testament in a remote but picturesque part of Siberia's Krasnoyarsk region in 1991, the year the Soviet Union broke up. A bearded self-styled mystic with long hair, he claimed to have been "reborn" to convey the word of God and attracted thousands of followers, some of whom flocked to live in a settlement known as the "Abode of Dawn" or "Sun City," at a time when Russia was battling poverty and lawlessness. Torop, 64, told his followers, who regularly intoned prayers in his honour as they looked up to his large hilltop residence, not to eat meat, not to smoke, not to drink alcohol or swear and to stop using money. But the Investigative Committee, Russia's equivalent of the US FBI, accused Torop and two aides of using psychological pressure to extract money from his followers and of causing serious harm to their mental and physical health. In a statement on Monday, a court in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk said it had convicted the three men, sentencing Torop and Vladimir Vedernikov to 12 years and Vadim Redkin to 11 years in a maximum-security prison camp. They were also ordered to pay 40 million roubles ($A782,000) to compensate their victims for "moral damage". All three denied wrongdoing. Torop and the two aides were arrested in a security forces raid by helicopter in 2020 that involved the FSB security service, the successor agency to the Soviet KGB. According to the RIA state news agency, investigators said the men had caused "moral harm" to 16 people, serious damage to the physical health of six people and moderate damage to another person's health. Vedernikov, one of the aides, had also been accused of committing fraud, RIA said. In a 2017 BBC documentary, filmmaker Simon Reeve interviewed Torop, who denied any wrongdoing. The film showed how school girls whose parents were his followers were being educated to be what a local teacher called "future brides for worthy men". A Russian sect leader who claimed he was Jesus Christ reincarnated has been sentenced to 12 years in a prison camp after being convicted of harming his followers' health and financial affairs. Sergei Torop, a former traffic policeman known to his followers as "Vissarion," set up the Church of the Last Testament in a remote but picturesque part of Siberia's Krasnoyarsk region in 1991, the year the Soviet Union broke up. A bearded self-styled mystic with long hair, he claimed to have been "reborn" to convey the word of God and attracted thousands of followers, some of whom flocked to live in a settlement known as the "Abode of Dawn" or "Sun City," at a time when Russia was battling poverty and lawlessness. Torop, 64, told his followers, who regularly intoned prayers in his honour as they looked up to his large hilltop residence, not to eat meat, not to smoke, not to drink alcohol or swear and to stop using money. But the Investigative Committee, Russia's equivalent of the US FBI, accused Torop and two aides of using psychological pressure to extract money from his followers and of causing serious harm to their mental and physical health. In a statement on Monday, a court in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk said it had convicted the three men, sentencing Torop and Vladimir Vedernikov to 12 years and Vadim Redkin to 11 years in a maximum-security prison camp. They were also ordered to pay 40 million roubles ($A782,000) to compensate their victims for "moral damage". All three denied wrongdoing. Torop and the two aides were arrested in a security forces raid by helicopter in 2020 that involved the FSB security service, the successor agency to the Soviet KGB. According to the RIA state news agency, investigators said the men had caused "moral harm" to 16 people, serious damage to the physical health of six people and moderate damage to another person's health. Vedernikov, one of the aides, had also been accused of committing fraud, RIA said. In a 2017 BBC documentary, filmmaker Simon Reeve interviewed Torop, who denied any wrongdoing. The film showed how school girls whose parents were his followers were being educated to be what a local teacher called "future brides for worthy men". A Russian sect leader who claimed he was Jesus Christ reincarnated has been sentenced to 12 years in a prison camp after being convicted of harming his followers' health and financial affairs. Sergei Torop, a former traffic policeman known to his followers as "Vissarion," set up the Church of the Last Testament in a remote but picturesque part of Siberia's Krasnoyarsk region in 1991, the year the Soviet Union broke up. A bearded self-styled mystic with long hair, he claimed to have been "reborn" to convey the word of God and attracted thousands of followers, some of whom flocked to live in a settlement known as the "Abode of Dawn" or "Sun City," at a time when Russia was battling poverty and lawlessness. Torop, 64, told his followers, who regularly intoned prayers in his honour as they looked up to his large hilltop residence, not to eat meat, not to smoke, not to drink alcohol or swear and to stop using money. But the Investigative Committee, Russia's equivalent of the US FBI, accused Torop and two aides of using psychological pressure to extract money from his followers and of causing serious harm to their mental and physical health. In a statement on Monday, a court in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk said it had convicted the three men, sentencing Torop and Vladimir Vedernikov to 12 years and Vadim Redkin to 11 years in a maximum-security prison camp. They were also ordered to pay 40 million roubles ($A782,000) to compensate their victims for "moral damage". All three denied wrongdoing. Torop and the two aides were arrested in a security forces raid by helicopter in 2020 that involved the FSB security service, the successor agency to the Soviet KGB. According to the RIA state news agency, investigators said the men had caused "moral harm" to 16 people, serious damage to the physical health of six people and moderate damage to another person's health. Vedernikov, one of the aides, had also been accused of committing fraud, RIA said. In a 2017 BBC documentary, filmmaker Simon Reeve interviewed Torop, who denied any wrongdoing. The film showed how school girls whose parents were his followers were being educated to be what a local teacher called "future brides for worthy men".
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Perth Now
'Jesus of Siberia' sect leader jailed for 12 years
A Russian sect leader who claimed he was Jesus Christ reincarnated has been sentenced to 12 years in a prison camp after being convicted of harming his followers' health and financial affairs. Sergei Torop, a former traffic policeman known to his followers as "Vissarion," set up the Church of the Last Testament in a remote but picturesque part of Siberia's Krasnoyarsk region in 1991, the year the Soviet Union broke up. A bearded self-styled mystic with long hair, he claimed to have been "reborn" to convey the word of God and attracted thousands of followers, some of whom flocked to live in a settlement known as the "Abode of Dawn" or "Sun City," at a time when Russia was battling poverty and lawlessness. Torop, 64, told his followers, who regularly intoned prayers in his honour as they looked up to his large hilltop residence, not to eat meat, not to smoke, not to drink alcohol or swear and to stop using money. But the Investigative Committee, Russia's equivalent of the US FBI, accused Torop and two aides of using psychological pressure to extract money from his followers and of causing serious harm to their mental and physical health. In a statement on Monday, a court in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk said it had convicted the three men, sentencing Torop and Vladimir Vedernikov to 12 years and Vadim Redkin to 11 years in a maximum-security prison camp. They were also ordered to pay 40 million roubles ($A782,000) to compensate their victims for "moral damage". All three denied wrongdoing. Torop and the two aides were arrested in a security forces raid by helicopter in 2020 that involved the FSB security service, the successor agency to the Soviet KGB. According to the RIA state news agency, investigators said the men had caused "moral harm" to 16 people, serious damage to the physical health of six people and moderate damage to another person's health. Vedernikov, one of the aides, had also been accused of committing fraud, RIA said. In a 2017 BBC documentary, filmmaker Simon Reeve interviewed Torop, who denied any wrongdoing. The film showed how school girls whose parents were his followers were being educated to be what a local teacher called "future brides for worthy men".
