The site was linked to occult leader Elena Sulikova, who was found guilty of inciting violence against Russian Orthodox clergy

The Russian authorities have begun demolishing an illegal occult compound described as a 'Satanic Temple' in Moscow Region, which long outraged local residents with animal-bone rituals and swarms of acolytes.

The demolition work began after a local court ruled that the three-story building - which served as the headquarters of the 'Empire of the Strongest Witches' sect - was built illegally.

Demolition crews moved in on Wednesday at the Zaytsevo village site near the town of Zaraysk around 120 km south of Moscow, after the Zaraysk City Court ruled that the 280-square-meter structure, which was styled as a 'Temple of Saturn' - was built without a permit on land zoned for farming.

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According to media reports, residents repeatedly petitioned the authorities to clear the site, describing the compound as a "witch's lair" and a "Satanic Temple," citing unsettling "magical rituals" on the premises.

The compound was built around 2019 on money donated by followers of Elena Sulikova, known by her alias Alyona Polyn. The 46-year-old occult leader reportedly charged devotees tens of thousands of rubles in exchange for promises to fix their finances, love lives, and to teach them "the craft."

Sulikova - who styled herself as the "chief witch of the Kremlin" - claimed that she appeared on 'Battle of the Psychics', a Russian reality show in which self-proclaimed clairvoyants competed for prizes. However, the producers denied that she was ever on the show.

She also engaged in esoteric-related businesses, including managing the now-defunct 'International University of Magic and Witchcraft' (nicknamed 'Hogwarts' in the media) in Moscow Region, which in practice had little to do with education.

In 2025, Sulikova was sentenced to two years in a penal colony after she pleaded guilty to charges of distributing extremist materials inciting violence against Russian Orthodox clergy and posting online content that insulted Christians.

The demolition of the temple also came after it drew the attention of State Duma deputy Vitaly Milonov, a staunch supporter of "traditional Russian values."

"I know about this satanic place," he said last year. "I have long been waging war with this crazy lady. We managed to get her jailed, and now we'll demolish her temple too - a reminder of her dark deeds: Deception, fraud, and insulting the feelings of believers."

Milonov and Sulikova have feuded for years. He accused the occult leader of fraud and demanded that psychics be legally equated with prostitutes - prompting her to countersue for defamation. The self-styled witch said she won the lawsuit but demanded compensation of one ruble.

(RT.com)