The Russian cult leader who thinks he is Jesus

The City of the Sun is home to a mysterious Russian cult known as the Church of the Last Testament. Its leader, Vissarion, used to be a traffic cop but now believes he is the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Last September armed security officers arrested Vissarion and two of his closest aides. They have been accused of embezzling funds from Vissarion’s followers and physically or mentally abusing them.

Produced by Vladimir Pirozhkov, Ksenia Churmanova and Paul Ivan Harris

23 February 2022