Narconon Russia faces big problems

Subject: Narconon Russia faces big problems

Krasnoyarsk Krai against "Narconon"

9 June 2005

Yesterday Krai deputy governor Lev Kuznetsov held a meeting in which the validity of the existence of the "Narconon" rehabilitation center was examined.

The case was that this organization, which essentially engages in medical activity, does not have any license for that.

An inspection also showed that the "Narconon" center, located not far from the village Pamyati 13 Bortsov in the Emelyanovsky district, has not a single employee with medical training, and, referring to trade secrets, conceals the method of treatment. "Sick people - drug addicts - are kept in the 'Narconon' center.

Many have hepatitis and heart disease. Despite this, as we succeeded in finding out, the center's management would not reveal its methods; the basic methods of treatment occurred to varying extent, especially the running and sauna sessions.

In the absence of a doctor this sort of experiment could result in tragedy," said a member of the examining commission, chief of Krai health-safety administration Egor Korchagin.

He is convinced that the "Narconon" management is close to the Church of Scientology, whose operations are prohibited in many countries of the world, which does not add to its popularity among Krai administration bureaucrats.

The Krai Prosecutor was also interested in the Scientologists; at the present time that office is preparing a conclusion on the legality of the rehabilitation center's operation in Krasnoyarsk Krai.

Deputy Governor Lev Kuznetsov reportedly set a time limit after which all violations of Russian law would have to be eliminated - 13 June, and if this would not happen, the center would be closed and the operations of the "Scientologists" prohibited on the territory of Krasnoyarsk Krai.

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"Narconon" building may be moved to a different center (Krasnoyarsk)

The owner of the building of the health improvement complex near the village Pamyati 13 Bortsov needs to set a date on which to take bids for lease. This was the opinion expressed 9 June by the chairman of the committee on affairs of nationality, religion and social associations, Mark Denisov.

At the present time the building is being leased to "Narconon," a foundation to rehabilitate sick drug addicts and which leases the building from the district DRSU. The lease deadline, however, has already expired. "In the condition the building is in now, it needs neither road work nor health control, as making a nice vacation camp there would be impossible," said Denisov.

He commented that a bid to lease the building would be held among the more than 40 registered social centers in Krasnoyarsk Krai that rehabilitate drug addicts.

"Several rehabilitative centers offer their services for far less than the 'Narconon' foundation. Several organizations even do it for free. To carry out this activity, though, they need premises on which to operate. In this case there is talk about a private complex which would have to serve the people," emphasized the committee chairman.