Information for this group comes with the help of “Stop Fools”,
a Russian web site devoted to exposing this group at http://stopfools.narod.ru/
(email is stopfools@narod.ru).
Also thanks to Dr. Yevgeniy Volkov, a Russian psychologist who specializing
in helping cult victims http://www.people.nnov.ru/volkov/en.
(Dr. Volkov translated the Russian edition of Steven Hassan’s
book, Releasing the Bonds.)
(Steve Hassan’s note: Rudnev seems to be a second rate
“copycat” of other cults including the Moon cult,
Rajneesh (Osho) as well as the books of Carlos Castaneda and others.
He certainly has a very shallow understanding of spiritual teachings
and distorts and twists esoteric concepts, especially tantra).
Rudnev is the author of the book "The Way of the Fool ",
which is considered "sacred" among the adherents. The
book is written in poor language, with an abundance of obscene
language and sexual descriptions (the site of the book is http://www.wayoffool.com).
It is of openly bad taste, but it has reached, among adherents,
huge popularity.
(Steve Hassan’s note: I have a copy of a videotape purportedly
made of this book. It is low quality, depicts a variety of violent
scenes, and is in extremely poor taste.)
After 1999 under the statements of parents of victims on his
criminal case (references to this are in document: "The Academician
of Occult Sciences has interested Office of Public Prosecutor
of Novosibirsk area." http://www.cry.ru/text.shtml?199903/19990301111016.inc
« Evening Novosibirsk » November, 19 1999 http://www.vn.ru/991119/1119-23-20.html.
That, as to elude justice, Rudnev got himself put away in a psychiatric
ward of a hospital, from which he has soon run away. Since November
1999, he is wanted by federal authorities and he cannot legally
return to Russia.
Rudnev has wanted to expand his cult outside of Russia and the
Ukraine for a long time.
And after a television show on "NTV" in which it has
been quite clearly said that "Belovodje" or "Esoterical
Ashram of Shambala " is a destructive sect representing obvious
danger to society; he seems to be focusing on recruiting people
in other countries, especially individuals with money.
The first news on "seminars" carried out in Greece
and Netherlands came in 2001. Then there were letters on the same
seminars in Estonia and Latvia. He also has his “shamans”
recruiting in Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil and the United States.
In the final declaration of participants in the International
Scientific - Practical Conference "Totalitarian sects - threat
of XXI century " that took place in Nizhny Novgorod 23 -
on April, 25, 2001 Rudnev's sect was included in the list of "the
most known and dangerous modern destructive cults." http://stopfools.narod.ru/text/itog_konf.htm
Rudnev's "Religious" activity has not remained without
attention of journalists. Some articles:
"The White brotherhood" -Article in the newspaper
"New Siberia" Novosibirsk,
March 28, 2000 http://www.newsib.cis.ru/1999_11/repor_11.htm
"The White brotherhood 2" - Article in the newspaper
"New Siberia" Novosibirsk,
June 30, 2000 http://www.newsib.cis.ru/2000_26/duhpr_1.html
Seminars are given which are expensive by Russian standards.
Deception is used constantly to lure potential recruits to seminars.
They believe that the ends justify the means.
Sadkhaks (students) are encouraged to eventually go to ashrams,
often just apartments, in which virtually all of the BITE model
mind control practices are used, especially sleep deprivation,
poor diet, constant activity, including push-ups, violent dancing,
menial work for long hours making objects that can be sold by
the cult.
Names are changed to reinforce the identity change into a cult
member. Women are encouraged to dye their hair black, and to wear
make-up that makes them look like cheap prostitutes.
Ashram members sleep on the floor, often without blankets, with
a window left open. Instructors sleep in separate rooms on beds.
When the sect was only in Novosibirsk, somebody named Alexander
Haritidi was close to Rudnev. This person now lives in America.
After the events of September 11, 2001 in America, an anonymous
message arrived at the guest book of our site, in which Haritidi
appeared accused of participation in acts of terrorism. Alexander
soon wrote a letter on the site in
which he has explained that all this is a lie. In the letter he
expressed readiness to help in questions connected with Rudnev.
Probably he would say more about activities of the sect in America.
