08/17/97 - 1003

Russian Governor Threatens Religious Groups

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (VNN) - The Russian governor threatened to banish religious cults and fringe groups.

Yevgeny Nazdratenko, governor of the Primorsky Krai region, said in a live television appearance: ?I want to warn activists of foreign religions that if religious psychoses happen again while I am leader of Primorsky Krai, I will employ the police force to throw them out.?

Several groups active in the region on Nazdratenko's list of religions put on notice include the Seventh Day Adventist Church, the Hare Krishna movement, and the Church of Christ.