Russia bans Scientology as court argued that it is not a religion

The movement is said to have about 8 million members worldwide

Russia has banned the Moscow branch of the Church of Scientology following a court hearing.
The country's Ministry of Justice (MoJ) argued that since the organisation has registered its name as a US trademark it cannot operate as a religion. This claim was then backed up by Moscow's City Court, according to Russian news agency RIA Novosti. A spokesman for Russia's MoJ said: "The representatives of the Church of Scientology have created many legal conflicts by themselves by restricting the religious freedom through the use of trade marks."
Judge Mikhail Kazakov ruled: "The suit filed by the ministry of justice for the liquidation must be enacted.”
According to the Mirror, the Church of Scientology were quick to condemn the court's decisions. A spokesman for the Moscow branch said: "When decisions like this are handed down, actually everyone loses, and this decision affects not only the Church of Scientology of Moscow.
"This decision is a sign of disease in the justice system."
In August, Moscow investigators said they had opened a criminal investigation after finding hidden microphones and cameras on the church’s premises in Moscow. The Church of Scientology was founded by American science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard in the 1950s.