Sect Leader's 12-Year Sentence: The Fall of 'Vissarion's' Empire

Sergei Torop, the Russian sect leader who convinced his followers he was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, has been sentenced to 12 years in a prison camp. The verdict comes amid accusations of harming the physical and financial well-being of his devotees.

Torop, once a traffic officer, founded the Church of the Last Testament in a remote Siberian region in 1991—an era marked by Russia's struggle with poverty. Known to his followers as 'Vissarion,' he attracted thousands with messages of spiritual rebirth and commanded a strict lifestyle that eschewed meat, alcohol, and money.

Authorities, however, painted a darker picture, accusing Torop of using psychological pressure to extract funds. Along with two aides, he faced charges of causing severe health damage. The three were arrested in a dramatic 2020 operation involving the FSB, leading to their conviction and a hefty penalty fine for 'moral damage.'

(With inputs from agencies.)