In Russia, authorities have begun punishing people for displaying the number 666 as a form of Satanist propaganda

Russian courts have begun imposing fines and arresting citizens en masse for displaying the number 666, which they have deemed to be a symbol of the "International Satanist Movement," a group banned in the country. 

This was reported by The Moscow Times, citing court rulings. 

According to case files, the three sixes have been equated with extremist symbols on par with the pentagram, the inverted cross, and the image of Baphomet. Specifically, in Tyumen and Voronezh, local residents were fined for social media posts, and in Tomsk, a man was detained for 14 days due to a tattoo featuring this number. Russian law provides for administrative liability for such actions in the form of fines or detention for up to 15 days. 

Courts justify their decisions by stating that the number is an “international symbol” of an organization that the Russian authorities previously declared extremist. Such judicial practice expands the list of prohibited symbols for which citizens may face persecution by law enforcement agencies. Currently, human rights activists note an intensification of control over Russians’ personal content and appearance as part of the fight against “non-traditional” views.

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