On July 23, a Moscow court sentenced Natalia Minenkova, 47, an informal leader of Falun Dafa — a spiritual group banned in both Russia and China — to four years in a penal colony for organizing the activities of an “undesirable” foreign organization. The verdict was announced by the Moscow Prosecutor's Office via its official Telegram channel.

According to the prosecution, Minenkova led the operations of the Center for Spiritual and Physical Perfection, an association linked to Falun Dafa, from July 2020 to October 2023. Russian authorities have designated the group as an extension of Falun Gong, which is recognized in Russia as an extremist organization. The court found her guilty under Part 3 of Article 284.1 of the Russian Criminal Code — organizing the activities of a foreign or international NGO deemed “undesirable” on Russian territory.

Prosecutors stated that Minenkova not only coordinated local group activities in Moscow but also facilitated the distribution of banned literature, including Zhuan Falun, the primary text authored by Falun Gong founder Li Hongzhi. The book is officially classified as extremist material in Russia. Authorities say she used the literature to recruit new followers into the sect.

In addition to the prison sentence, the court barred Minenkova from engaging in any socio-political activities, including on the internet, for a period of seven years.

The prosecution had originally requested a sentence of 4.5 years. In May, the Tushinsky District Court had ordered her preliminary detention for two months during the investigation phase.

Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, was founded in China in 1992 by Li Hongzhi. Though initially promoted as a qigong practice, the group has been widely criticized for its cult-like structure, doomsday beliefs, and rejection of modern medicine. The Chinese government banned it in 1999 following reports of mass psychosis, suicide, and other harmful incidents associated with its teachings.

In July 2024, Russian authorities expanded their crackdown on Falun Gong-related activities by designating six American and one British NGOs affiliated with the movement as undesirable.