Man Claiming To Be Jesus Christ Is Sent To Russian Prison Camp
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 region.Why 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 2020...Torop 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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Trump Admin Declares 'Unlawful Assembly' as LA Protesters, Marines Clash
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. The Department of Homeland Security has declared a July 4 protest at the federal building in Los Angeles as "unlawful assembly." According to local news reports, anti-ICE protesters threw bottles at ICE agents and Marines. Anthony Cabassa, an independent journalist covering the protest, posted on X, formerly Twitter, "DHS Police have declared the protest an unlawful assembly, U.S. Marines and federal agents have now dawned riot gear to include gas masks, as they order the crowd to disperse immediately." BREAKING 🚨: DHS Police have declared the protest an unlawful assembly, U.S. Marines and federal agents have now dawned riot gear to include gas masks, as they order the crowd to disperse immediately. — Anthony (@AnthonyCabassa_) July 5, 2025 In a separate post, Cabassa posted, "Altercations break out between protestors and federal agents and U.S. Marines, as a DHS van attempts to enter the federal building garage, but is surrounded by protestors. Tensions are very high, and protest size is growing as the sun sets." Los Angeles, CA 🚨: Altercations break out between protestors and federal agents and U.S. Marines, as a DHS van attempts to enter the federal building garage, but is surrounded by protestors. Tensions are very high, and protest size is growing as the sun sets. — Anthony (@AnthonyCabassa_) July 5, 2025 This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
Newsweek
7 hours ago
- Newsweek
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Responds to Renowned Boxer's ICE Arrest
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. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she hopes that boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. will return to the nation to serve a sentence, as he faces accusations of involvement in organized crime and firearms trafficking. "The hope is that he will be deported and serve the sentence in Mexico," Sheinbaum said at a news briefing on Friday. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum attends her morning news conference at the National Palace in Mexico City on April 2. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum attends her morning news conference at the National Palace in Mexico City on April 2. AP Photo/Marco Ugarte, File The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Chávez's arrest on Thursday, accusing Chávez of making "multiple fraudulent statements on his application" and determining that he remained in the country illegally. The agency alleged that Chávez applied for Lawful Permanent Resident status based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen linked to the Sinaloa Cartel through a prior relationship with the now-deceased son of cartel leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Why It Matters Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated the Sinaloa Cartel, also known as Cártel de Sinaloa, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in February. "It is one of the world's most powerful drug cartels and is one of the largest producers and traffickers of fentanyl and other illicit drugs to the United States. Cártel de Sinaloa has used violence to murder, kidnap, and intimidate civilians, government officials, and journalists," the State Department said in a February press release. What To Know Chávez was arrested in California on Wednesday, several days after losing a fight with influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul. DHS said Chávez has an active warrant in Mexico accusing him of involvement in organized crime and trafficking firearms, ammunition and explosives. Chávez first entered the U.S. legally in August 2023 using a B2 tourist visa, which was valid until February 2024. Ten months later, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services made a referral to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that Chávez is an "egregious public safety threat." The DHS said an entry was made into the agency's system that indicated Chávez was not an immigration enforcement priority. On January 4 of this year, Chávez was allowed to reenter the U.S. "It is shocking the previous administration flagged this criminal illegal alien as a public safety threat, but chose to not prioritize his removal and let him leave and COME BACK into our country," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. What People Are Saying Sheinbaum, at a news briefing: "... So that there is a deportation and that he can serve the sentence, that's the process the attorney general's office is working on." McLaughlin, in a statement: "Under President Trump, NO ONE is above the law—including world-famous athletes. Our message to any cartel affiliates in the U.S. is clear: We will find you and you will face consequences. The days of unchecked cartel violence are over." Michael Goldstein, lawyer for Chávez, in comments to Reuters: "The current allegations are outrageous and appear to be designed as a headline to terrorize the community." What Happens Next DHS said Chávez is being processed for expedited removal from the U.S. Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@
Newsweek
12 hours ago
- Newsweek
Christian Leaders Bodies Found in Mass Grave
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. The bodies of eight Christian leaders who disappeared in April were discovered in a mass grave in Colombia. The victims—James Caicedo, Óscar García, Máryuri Hernández, Maribel Silva, Isaid Gómez, Carlos Valero, Nixon Peñaloza, and Jesús Valero—were conducting humanitarian and spiritual outreach in the region, according to the office of the attorney general, cited by Christian Daily International. Why It Matters The region is marked by power struggles between dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN). This massacre represents the largest recorded in Colombia in 2025, according to the Institute for Development and Peace Studies (Indepaz). Christians are often targeted in Columbia because they oppose the country's drug cartels and guerrilla groups, according to Open Doors' 2025 World Watch Report of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian What To Know The Christian leaders were summoned by members of the FARC's Armando Ríos Front, led by Iván Mordisco, prior to their disappearance, according to initial reports from the attorney general's office. The FARC was trying to block the influence of a rival ELN cell in the area, but authorities have not found any evidence of any links between the Christians and the guerrilla group. The victims' identities and backgrounds were confirmed by Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Open Doors, which highlighted that Colombian Christian leaders, particularly those working with youth, are frequent targets of cartel or guerrilla violence. The mass grave was identified after authorities detained a guerrilla in May whose cellphone contained photos of the victims and the crime, making it possible to locate the grave. Colombian President Gustavo Petro called this massacre a grave human rights violation and called for a stronger security presence in regions affected by conflict. Stock photo of a cross atop a church, taken in Hyderabad, India, Monday, Dec. 19, 2011. Stock photo of a cross atop a church, taken in Hyderabad, India, Monday, Dec. 19, 2011. AP What People Are Saying The Evangelical Confederation of Colombia (CEDECOL) said in a statement: "We ask for prayers for peace and consolation for these families. We raise a firm voice of cry and demand that the authorities ensure that these crimes do not go unpunished, that the investigations move forward swiftly, and that real guarantees are provided for the protection of the lives and integrity of those who exercise spiritual leadership in the most vulnerable regions of the country." The daughter of one of the victims told SEMANA newspaper that the Petro administration should be "present and to avoid these types of situations, because currently two armed groups are fighting over territory, and the peasantry is caught in the middle, and there is no response from the state, no protection from the state. In other words, we are truly alone in a war between two armed groups." What Happens Next Investigations are ongoing by the Colombian attorney general's office, and the Evangelical Confederation has called for urgent protection measures. International organizations are monitoring further developments and urging the Colombian government to address violence against religious and social leaders in rural regions
