A man accused of leading a bizarre cult has been sentenced to 12 years in a Russian prison camp. Sergei Torop, 64, is a former traffic policeman known as “Vissarion,” or “he who gives new life” to his followers. He has been convicted of using psychological pressure to steal money from his followers. Torop started the Church of the Last Testament in Siberia in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union. Torop fashioned himself as Christ “reborn” with his long hair and beard resembling the Christian Messiah. His teachings attracted thousands of followers, including a core group that lived atop an isolated hill called the “Abode of Dawn.”

According to prosecutors, Torop and two of his associates financially and physically abused members of their sect. 16 people were the victims of “moral harm,” while six experienced “serious health problems” and another experienced “moderate” harm. A 2017 documentary by filmmaker Simon Reeve exposed issues of the sect, including accusations that young girls were being groomed as “future brides for worthy men.” In a 2002 interview with a British newspaper, Torop explicitly claimed to be Christ. “But to put it simply, yes, I am Jesus Christ. What was promised must happen,” he said. “And it was promised in Israel 2,000 years ago that I would return, that I would return to finish what was started. I am not God. And it is a mistake to see Jesus as God. But I am the living word of God the Father. Everything that God wants to say, He says through me.”

Followers were told not to eat meat, smoke, drink alcohol or swear and to stop using money, while Torop allegedly set up financial systems to steal their money. The cult combined aspects of Russian Orthodox traditions, Buddhism, end-of-days prophecy, communal living, and environmental conservation principles. Torop made a number of claims, including that he could cure AIDS and cancer with a mere touch. He also replaced Christmas celebrations with celebrations for his own birthday, which is January 14.

The accusations led to a helicopter raid in 2020. Torop’s two associates, Vadim Redkin and Vladimir Vedyornikov — were sentenced to 11 and 12 years in prison, respectively. The three men were ordered to pay 40 million roubles ($511,500). All three men deny the charges. It is unclear whether the men will appeal their sentences or not.