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Defendant in St Petersburg Church of Scientology case released from jail

The court placed Galina Shurinova under house arrest until October 3

© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

ST. PETERSBURG, August 4. /TASS/. St. Petersburg’s Nevsky District Court has ordered to release under house arrest one of the defendants in the case of the Church of Scientology in St. Petersburg, the unified press service of the city’s judicial system said on Friday.

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Court extends detention for members of St. Petersburg Church of Scientology

"The court has refused to satisfy the investigator’s motion of extending remand in custody for Galina Shurinova," the press release said. "The court placed her under house arrest until October 3."

On Thursday, the court extended detention for three suspects in the case - Ivan Matsitsky, Anastasia Terentyeva, Sahib Aliev. Konstantsia Yesaulkina’s house arrest was extended as well.

Members of the St. Petersburg branch of the Church of Scientology are charged with illegally running paid training courses and programs. The trainings are estimated to bring revenues of more than 276 million rubles ($4.589 mln).

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St. Petersburg’s Church of Scientology is charged with illegal revenue of $4.8 mln

On June 6, the suspects were detained and officers of the Russian Security Service (FSB) regional branch searched the locations linked to the Church of Scientology in the country’s second-largest city. The criminal case against the church was launched under the Criminal Code’s articles of illegal business activities, incitement of hatred or hostility, organization of an extremist group.

Books and documents recognized as extremist in Russia were seized from the church members.

Scientology is a system of religious and philosophical beliefs and practices developed by American author Lafayette Ronald Hubbard in early 1950s in the United States. Russia has recognized some scientology materials as extremist and blacklisted them, banning their production, distribution and storage for mass distribution in the country.

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Ukraine exhausted, needs constant money flow from outside — defense official

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The resolution gained 13 votes

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Simultaneously, the Air Force conducted two more military operation using a huge number of drones to target a US destroyer in the Gulf of Aden

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Ukraine’s EU accession to require 20% increase in union’s budget — European Commissioner

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Reinforced Ukrainian battlegroup fails to break through Russian defenses in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko added that the Ukrainians have also intensified artillery and drone attacks at Russian positions

US has no idea what to do about Zelensky — Seymour Hersh

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Blinken’s visit to China meant to shatter Russian-Chinese ties — senior Russian diplomat

"I think that Beijing understands this perfectly well and will not even pretend being ready to reach any agreements with the Americans to the detriment of Russia’s interests," Sergey Ryabkov said

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Putin proclaims Odessa Russian city, challenges Ukraine's historical narrative

At the same time, the president noted that once upon a time "Vladimir Lenin gave away the whole of Ukraine when he created the Soviet Union"

Ukraine turns into testing ground for future world order, says Belarus president

"The largest nuclear powers, albeit indirectly, are actually fighting on Ukrainian territory. And not indirectly," the president of Belarus noted

White House alleges that Russia working on satellite carrying nuclear device

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Moscow slams NATO drills near Russian borders as inflammatory

"It is obvious that the upcoming combat training on the territory of Finland is part of a hybrid war against our country," Maria Zakharova said

Russia’s victory in Ukraine to change course of history in Europe — von der Leyen

Ukraine "is carrying a heavy burden" for the benefit of the EU, and therefore EU member states must "provide Ukraine with means to defend themselves," European Commission president said

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Waldemar Skrzypczak also said it was "a matter of hours" until Kiev received the weapons allocated by the US as part of its latest military aid package

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North Korean film shown in Moscow to mark anniversary of Putin-Kim meeting

Minister Plenipotentiary of the North Korean Embassy in Russia Lee Yeong Jin emphasized that "today's screening will contribute to further intensifying cultural exchanges, deepening mutual understanding and friendly relations between the peoples of North Korea and Russia"

Potential nuclear facilities in Poland to be military target for Russia — senior diplomat

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Russian defense minister dismisses his deputy Ivanov

Timur Ivanov was removed from the office of deputy defense minister of the Russian Federation of the federal government’s civil service

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Russians not let to Turkish Airlines flights to Mexico due to US pressure on it — diplomat

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German defense minister says Russia making more arms than it needs for its op in Ukraine

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UNSC rejects amendment by Russia, China to resolution on nuclear weapons in outer space

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Russia tasked with 'building new world' — Putin

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US stops hiding true purpose of sanctions on Moscow, Russian envoy says

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Kiev may use ATACMS missiles to hit Crimean Bridge — Russian defense ministry official

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Anti-Russian measures prove world cannot exist in unipolar diktat, envoy says

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Top US diplomat Blinken arrives in Shanghai

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Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

IN BRIEF: Russian deputy defense minister, entrepreneur arrested for taking bribes

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Russian troops wipe out Ukrainian UAV production workshop over past day

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US arms supplies unable to change situation in Kiev's favor — Kremlin

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US waging hybrid war against Serbs to snuff them out for good — Republika Srpska head

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Mohamed Toumba noted that the training of troops could help in the fight against terrorism

Russia’s top brass reports destroying US-made Hawk air defense system in Ukraine operation

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Russian forces take Ukrainian strongholds near Klescheyevka under control

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Russian President said in an interview with Rossiya-1 TV channel journalist Pavel Zarubin

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