Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially banned the Satanic Temple and all affiliated occult organizations from operating within the Russian Federation, declaring them “a direct threat to Russian culture, values, and the future of humanity itself.”

While the Satanic Temple continues to gain ground in the United States—opening After School Satan Clubs in public schools across multiple states under the banner of “religious equality”—Putin has taken a hardline stance, choosing to nip the movement in the bud before it can spread its influence within Russia’s borders.

Citing the group’s growing presence in Western institutions as a cautionary tale, the Kremlin has made it clear that such ideologies have no place in a society rooted in tradition, faith, and national identity.

In a televised statement broadcast to the nation, Putin said the decision was made to protect the “spiritual sovereignty of Russia” from what he called “the moral rot and cultural subversion being exported by the West under the guise of ‘tolerance’ and ‘freedom of religion.’”

“We will not allow the demons of the West to corrupt our children and infiltrate our institutions,” Putin declared. “Russia will stand firm against the forces of darkness disguised as progressive ideology.”

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The Kremlin’s ban reportedly extends beyond the Satanic Temple to include various Western-aligned occult, esoteric, and “New Age” organizations accused of promoting transhumanism, child indoctrination, and anti-Christian ideology. The law labels such groups as “extremist organizations” — putting them in the same category as ISIS and neo-Nazi cells.

Cracking Down on Cultural Subversion

The move comes amid a broader crackdown on what the Russian government calls “spiritual terrorism” — a term being used to describe the infiltration of occult symbols, rituals, and ideology into media, education, and politics.

Russian intelligence sources allege that some of these groups have ties to international NGOs, Hollywood elites, and Western tech billionaires — many of whom have been accused in recent years of participating in bizarre occult ceremonies behind closed doors.

“This is not about religious freedom,” said one Russian Orthodox cleric involved in drafting the new law. “It’s about protecting our society from a toxic ideology that glorifies nihilism, perversion, and anti-human agendas. These groups worship chaos and death — not liberty.”

Predictably, Western media outlets and liberal NGOs have responded with outrage, accusing Putin of violating human rights and religious freedom. The Satanic Temple itself released a statement condemning the ban, calling it “authoritarian” and “deeply regressive” because “all Russian children should have the opportunity to choose Satan.”