Saratov authorities shut down the sect

Interfax News/February 1, 2007

Saratov, February 5, Interfax - Five people, members of the Witness Lee's Local Church, were detained in Saratov in mid-January.

Four of the detained are foreign citizens - from the United States, Malaysia and Ukraine - and the fifth is a Russia citizen, a source in Saratov law enforcement agencies told Interfax on Monday.

"The detained foreign citizens have been fined. As of now, they have voluntarily left the country," the source said.

An examination has established that the detainees were not registered in Saratov. "Moreover, the declared goal of the visit - cultural ties - did not correspond to their real activity. According to investigative information, they were involved in religious activity," the source said.

The Witness Lee's Local Church is not registered in Russia. The church was established by Changshou Li, a Chinese citizen, whom members refer to as Witness Lee. The group is currently based in the U.S.