August 10, 2026

LDS Leader Detained For "Financing Terrorism"


LDS Leader Detained For "Financing Terrorism"
Police raiding the home of Vyborg's LDS Church leader. Peterburgskaya Politsia, Telegram.

On August 6, the Russian media reported that a local head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) Vyborg, or Mormon Church, was detained for "financing terrorism." The cleric had, five years ago, donated to the late Alexey Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation.

Members of the FSB, the Economic Police, and regiment members of the Ministry of Interior detained the 74-year-old leader of in his home. The Leningrad Oblast and St. Petersburg police departments released footage of the raid on their Telegram channels. 

In the video, the church leader said he donated money to Navalny's organization before it was legally declared "extremist." He said, "This was long ago. This was also when Navalny was alive, when he was just starting to develop." The man also claimed he "accidentally pressed the button 'provide help'" and transferred money to the fund.

In the video published by the St. Petersburg Police Department, the Ministry of Interior forces are also seen raiding the Vyborg LDS Church. Its leader is listed as Valentin Gavrilov. A decision is still pending on whether the LDS cleric will face pre-trial detention.

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