27-07-2025
Fans of heavy metal could face jail in Russia as Putin bans ‘satanists'
Russian fans of heavy metal and goth music could face prison after the Kremlin's top court outlawed the 'international satanism movement' as an extremist and terrorist group — even though no such organisation exists.
The Russian Supreme Court's ruling came after appeals from the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, MPs and other officials. It means that anyone who is alleged to be a member of the non-existent movement could face up to eight years in prison. Critics said the ruling would increase the climate of fear that has gripped Russia since President Putin ordered tanks into Ukraine in 2022.
In April, Andrei Kartapolov, a senior MP who heads the Russian parliament's defence committee, told officials that satanism was a 'direct threat to Russian statehood'. He also alleged, without evidence, that Russia's satanists were funded by the West. Another pro-Kremlin MP claimed that he had received complaints from members of the public about the growing number of 'satanic sex orgies' in Moscow and other cities.
