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Russia’s FSB security service blacklists Aum Shinrikyo as terrorist organization

MOSCOW, November 2. /TASS/. Russia’s federal security service FSB has blacklisted the international religious organization Aum Shinrikyo as a terrorist organization.

As follows from information available on the FSB’s official website, the unified federal list of groups recognized as terrorist under Russian legislation contains the names of 26 Russian, foreign and international organizations.

The decision to include Aum Shinrikyo in that list was made in conformity with the Russian Supreme Court’s decision of September 20, which took effect on October 25.

Aum Shinrikyo, founded in Japan by Shoko Asahara in 1987, gained world notoriety in 1995, when its members sprayed the nerve gas sarin in Tokyo’s subway, killing 13.

Japan’s Public Security Agency in September 1999 said Asahara had testified Aum was responsible for the sarin attack. Asahara stood trial in 2004 and was sentenced to death.

The main investigations directorate of Russia’s Investigative Committee launched criminal proceedings over the establishment of a group whose activity implies violence against individuals and other harm to their health. Earlier, the Investigative Committee said that according to its findings unidentified persons no later than 2011 established an association of Aum Shinrikyo followers (Aleph) disguised as a religious group that committed acts of violence against individuals and otherwise harmed their health. According to the Investigative Committee, the group used the Internet for money-raising purposes in 2012-2014.