CONTROVERSIAL religion the Church of Scientology was today facing a major blow after a branch was banned following a surprise court ruling.
Moscow City Court banned the local branch of the group amid claims from the Russian Justice Ministry that it failed to comply with federal laws on freedom of religion.
That came after the group tried to register Scientology as a trademark owned by the US Religious Technology Center.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman 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."
