Anti-Cult Networks — a Threat to Human Rights & Democracy | OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference

In October 2025, at the OSCE Human Dimension Conference in Warsaw, an important statement was delivered by Dušan Valeček, a representative of the ALLATRA International Public Movement from the Czech Republic. The topic of his speech was “The Anti-Cult Network: Human Rights Violations and the Destruction of Democracy.”

In his address, the representative of ALLATRA International Public Movement spoke about a large-scale system of persecution, incitement of hatred in society, and discrimination carried out under the slogan of “combating cults.” According to Dušan Valeček, this network is connected to the Russian structure RACIRS and its European platform FECRIS, coordinated from Moscow.

Under the guise of “fighting dangerous cults,” a campaign has been launched against religious minorities, human rights defenders, independent journalists, politicians, and individual citizens. Anti-cult organizations — which, according to evidence, receive funding and political support — have already been accused of sexual abuse, exploitation of vulnerable people, and interference in the work of state institutions.

At the OSCE plenary session, Dušan Valeček emphasized that unless European countries provide a legal assessment of these activities, democracy in Europe may face a real threat. He called for an end to the impunity of anti-cult networks and urged that the issue of their responsibility be addressed at the legislative level.

Speech text:

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Dušan Valeček, and I represent the ALLATRA International Public Movement. Our organization deals with research of issues related to climate change, ecology, and the protection of human rights. However, in the course of this work, we ourselves have faced severe violations of fundamental rights: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and freedom of religion. In the Russian Federation, former volunteers of our organization are being subjected to persecution, humiliation, torture, and imprisonment.

Who is behind the persecution of religious minorities and human rights defenders, behind the incitement of hatred that leads to violence and genocide? Behind it is a transnational anti-cult network operating under the guise of fighting so-called “dangerous cults and sects.” This rhetoric is a cover for serious crimes.

These practices violate Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees everyone the freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. Around the world, anti-cult groups have been implicated in sexual abuse, including pedophilia and child trafficking, as well as the exploitation of vulnerable people in forced “rehabilitation” camps. But that is only part of the problem. This network is actively infiltrating government and legal systems, bribing politicians, influencing prosecutors, producing fake expert reports, and undermining democratic institutions.

At the IRF Builders Forum in Washington this May, it was noted that transnational anti-cult networks coordinated from Moscow pose a threat to democracy. Within the OSCE, concerns have repeatedly been raised about the activities of the Russian RACIRS, which is linked to the FSB, and its European network, FECRIS. What began as the discrediting of minorities has now grown into the suppression of freedom and the rise of totalitarian tendencies.

If we don’t recognize this threat and make a legal assessment of the anti-cult network’s activities a priority, there may soon be nothing left of democracy in Europe. As long as this network operates with impunity, genuine freedom will remain out of reach. The activities of this network must be stopped, including at the legislative level.

About ALLATRA International Public Movement

ALLATRA International Public Movement is an independent volunteer organization engaged in large-scale research in geodynamics and environmental issues. ALLATRA IPM is renowned for its interdisciplinary approach to studying natural disasters, promotion of development of international scientific cooperation, and active advocacy of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

In 2024, in recognition of its commitment to environmental protection and creation, ALLATRA International Public Movement was awarded the apostolic blessing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In 2025, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV also bestowed his apostolic blessing on ALLATRA president and all the movement volunteers.

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