Moscow - The leader of a satanist sect in Russia's Republic of Mordovia that included more than 60 members has been arrested and the group shut down, investigators announced on Wednesday.
According to the Federal Investigative Committee's reports, the cult leader, whose name has not been released, is a 24-year-old medical student from Belarus. He was arrested on Saturday on charges of organizing an illegal group that infringes on the rights of an individual. He faces a sentence of up to two years if convicted.
Investigators said the members rented a house where they "conducted cult ceremonies, including illegal acts of alcoholic binge drinking, sexual practices and antisocial behavior."
"During the probe, investigators confiscated a large amount of cult and satanic literature, documents of a religious character in Latin, as well as the organization's charter and member list," the report read.
