Head of Anti-Drug Foundation Arrested Over Scientology Links
Elena Krotova, head of the charitable foundation 'Protect Children from Drugs and Alcohol,' was arrested by Moscow's Basmanny Court on charges of organizing the activities of a foreign organization deemed undesirable in Russia, specifically the Church of Scientology. She is accused of using the foundation's anti-drug outreach to recruit members for the banned religious group.
Consensus
- Elena Krotova was arrested by the Basmanny Court in Moscow.
- She is the head of the charitable foundation 'Protect Children from Drugs and Algebra'.
- She is accused of organizing the activities of a foreign or international organization recognized as undesirable in Russia.
- The organization in question is linked to Scientology.
- The case is based on Article 284.1, Part 3 of the Russian Criminal Code.
- The court ordered her detention until December 15, 2026.
- Searches were conducted in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Kaliningrad, and Ufa.
- Materials related to Scientology, including works by L. Ron Hubbard and membership certificates, were seized.
- The foundation has operated in 45 regions of Russia since 2018.
- Krotova was awarded a medal by the Moscow Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2021 for her anti-drug work.
Points of divergence
- Krotova became a representative of the Scientologists in Moscow in 2021 and held their meetings in the foundation's premises. — tg_radiosvoboda
- Krotova established contact with 'World Institute of Scientology Enterprises' and 'Church of Spiritual Technology' in 2021, and organized their activities in Moscow from 2021 to 2026. — fontanka
- The foundation was used as a cover for Scientology activities since 2021, when the 'Library of L. Ron Hubbard' and 'World Institute of Scientology Enterprises' were declared undesirable. — tg_echoonline_news
- The Church of Scientology in St. Petersburg was declared an extremist organization in December 2024. — novaya_eu
- The foundation's activities were conducted under the guise of anti-drug work to recruit new followers of Scientology. — tg_sotavisionmedia
- A 11-year-old girl went missing in Vologda Oblast and was later found after being taken to the 'Imperial Empire' sect, which is also banned. — vm
- The St. Petersburg City Court declared the local Church of Scientology an extremist organization in December 2024. — vedomosti
Coverage (11 sources)
- Basmanny Court of Moscow sent head of charity foundation "Protect Children from Drugs and Alcohol" Elena Krotova to pretrial detention — Радио Свобода
- Head of the Foundation 'Protect Children from Drugs and Alcohol' Arrested on Suspicion of Links with Scientologists* — Фонтанка
- Court in Moscow arrested head of charity foundation. She is accused of involvement in banned in Russia Scientology church... — ЭХО / Новости
- Head of the Foundation 'Protect Children from Drugs and Alcohol' Arrested on Charges of Recruitment into a Scientology Organization — Новая газета Европа
- In Moscow, head of drug-fighting fund arrested in case of recruitment into Scientology organization — SOTAvision
- Krotov, head of the 'Protect Children from Drugs and Alcohol' Fund, arrested: what she is accused of — Вечерняя Москва
- Court arrested head of drug-fighting fund over sect recruitment case — Ведомости
- Court in Moscow arrested head of foundation 'Protect Children from Drugs' — Интерфакс
- In Moscow, the head of the fund 'Protect Children from Drugs and Alcohol' Krotova was arrested — Коммерсантъ
- Head of the Foundation "Protect Children from Drugs and Alcohol" Elena Krotova Arrested — Вести
- Head of the "Protect Children from Drugs and Alcohol" Foundation Elena Krotova detained, TASS reported to law enforcement... — ТАСС (Telegram)
Key entities
- Elena Krotova
- Moscow
- Protect Children from Drugs and Alcohol
- Russia
- TASS
- Basmanny District Court
- Pre-trial detention center
- Basmanny Court
- Moscow City Court
- INTERFAX.RU
- General Procuracy
- Izvestiya
- Basmanniy District Court
- Elena Krotova