Conviction New religious movements Messianic / communal movement Krasnodar, Russia · 2026

Russia: 'School of Life' founder sentenced to 20 years for exploiting followers under exorcism and divinity claims

Record class

Core record

Evidence status

Convicted

Authority role

founder of the 'Shkola Zhizni' (School of Life) sect, self-proclaimed god and exorcist

Organization

'Shkola Zhizni' (School of Life), Krasnodar

Spiritual nexus

Followers — including children raised inside the group — under a man they were taught was divine, with 'exorcism' as the coercion's script.

Evidence structure

Proceedings

2026-06-25 · first-instance conviction — not yet in legal force

Prikubansky District Court, Krasnodar, Russia. Oleg Garmash, founder of Krasnodar's 'School of Life' sect, who proclaimed himself a god and exorcist and controlled roughly twenty-five followers since 2005, was convicted on 25 June 2026 of raping two minors (2011–2014) and sexually coercing women followers under 'demon-expulsion' framing. He received 20 years in a strict-regime colony, three years' restriction of liberty, and a twenty-year ban on work with children. The verdict is not yet in legal force.

Primary record

national newspaper court reporting verdict and sentencing report 93.ru (Krasnodar): court report of the verdict.: Regional outlet's detailed court report.
national newspaper court reporting verdict report AiF Kuban: 'Экзорцизм через постель…'.: Independent corroboration.

Related record