Moscow City Duma deputies propose to adopt a law on traditional healers

On October 27, deputies of the Moscow City Duma turned to M. Fradkov and B. Gryzlov with a proposal to adopt a law on traditional healers.

The author of the appeal, V. Prisyazhnyuk, believes that "state control should be established over the activities of magicians, sorcerers and healers."

The deputies of the Moscow City Duma expressed concern about the "increase in the number of people affected by unskilled medical care provided to them by traditional healers." For this reason, V. Prisyazhnyuk said, "Diplomas giving them ( magicians and psychics - ed. ) the right to practice healing should be issued only to confirm their professional training." The deputy also added that the initiative to adopt such a law was taken by the Legislative Assembly of the Vladimir Region.

On February 17, the Moscow City Duma began to develop amendments to the federal law "On protecting the health of citizens", providing for a complete ban on the provision of occult services in Russia.

Deputy Lyudmila Stebenkova suggested introducing the concept of "occult services" into the bill. “This is not about a ban on traditional folk medicine and healing (they are spelled out in the law), but about a ban on such specific services as the removal of spoilage, the crown of celibacy, love spells for a loved one, and other services of an occult-mystical and religious nature,” said L. Stebenkova in an interview with Kommersant . The deputy estimates the Moscow market of occult services at 8-10 million dollars a year.

For violation of the ban, it is proposed to impose a fine in the amount of 20 to 25 minimum wages.

The Moscow center of clairvoyance "Laguna" suggested that if these amendments are adopted, "the occult will not go anywhere, but simply go into the shadows," since such services are in demand by the population.

On January 26, the Interfax-religion portal , citing L. Stebenkova, head of the Duma Commission on Health and Public Health, reported that the draft, in particular, provides for a ban on the use of religious paraphernalia by healers. According to L. Stebenkova, these initiatives of the deputies may be considered by the Moscow City Duma in the coming months.

Sources

• Russian magicians and sorcerers will be put under state control // Portal-Credo.ru. 2004. October 27.
• MEDIA MONITORING: The Moscow City Duma starts a witch hunt. Moscow deputies intend to ban occult services at the federal level // Portal-Credo.ru. 2005. February 18. (An article from Kommersant.)
• Moscow deputies intend to achieve a ban on the use of religious paraphernalia by healers // Interfax-religion. 2006. January 26.