Scientology Ruling

Moscow Times/July 19, 2002

Moscow -- The Church of Scientology's Russian branch won a legal victory Thursday when the Moscow City Court upheld a lower court's ruling allowing the group to continue operating in Russia.

The Justice Ministry had sought to shut the group down based on a widely criticized 1997 religion law that requires all religious groups to register with Russian authorities.

A Moscow district court dismissed the ministry's request in May, arguing that liquidating a religious organization that does not pose a threat to public order is a violation of freedom of religion.

Prosecutors appealed, but the Moscow City Court upheld the lower court's decision Thursday, Galina Krylova, lawyer for the Church of Scientology, said on Ekho Moskvy radio.