According to a report in The Warsaw Voice, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs estimates that there are 2,200 White Brothers in Ukraine, while the White Brotherwood itself claims between 15,000 and 20,000 followers (28 Nov. 1993). The sect's spiritual leader is Yuri Krivonogov, a Kiev engineer and former Krishna who claims to be a prophet. Marina Tsvigun, "the living God" and the spiritual leader's wife, is a former journalist and activist in the communist youth organization Komsomol. The source indicates that Ukrainian authorities regard them as "anti-state, asocial and non-humanitarian." During the period of penance, 1-10 November 1993, which preceded the group's prediction of the end of the world, 783 members of the sect were detained by Ukrainian policemen (ibid.).

According to Reuters, Mari Tsvygun and Yuri Krivonogov were still in detention on 24 November 1993 (24 Nov. 1993a), as were 500 of their followers (24 Nov. 1993b), on charges of fraud, embezzlement and corrupting minors (ibid.). Reuters further reports that a group of followers opposing the incarceration of the group's leaders kept the police on guard with bomb threats (ibid.), while the BBC reports that a group of followers threatened sabotage and terrorist acts at nuclear and thermal power stations (BBC Summary, 23 Nov. 1993).

According to a representative of the Ukrainian National Information Centre in Washington, DC, Rukh has no links with the White Brotherhood (29 Aug. 1994). For more detailed information, please consult the attached documents.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 23 November 1993. "White Brotherhood Sect Threatens Terrorist Acts at Nuclear Power Stations." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 24 November 1993a. BC Cycle. Ron Popeski. "Cult Tries to Stage Second Apocalypse in Ukraine." (NEXIS)

_____. 24 November 1993b. BC Cycle. Ron Popeski. "Cult Cataclysm Flops in Ukraine for Second Time." (NEXIS)

Ukrainian National Information Centre, Washington, DC. 29 August 1994. Telephone interview with representative.

The Warsaw Voice. 28 November 1993. Juliusz Urbanowicz. "Ukraine's White Brotherhood: A Cult of Despair." (NEXIS)

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 23 November 1993. "White Brotherhood Sect Threatens Terrorist acts at Nuclear Power Stations." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 24 November 1993. BC Cycle. Ron Popeski. "Cult Tries to Stage Second Apocalypse in Ukraine." (NEXIS)

_____. 24 November 1993. BC Cycle. Ron Popeski. "Cult Cataclysm Flops in Ukraine for Second Time." (NEXIS)

_____. 19 November 1993. BC Cycle. "Ukraine Charges Doomsday Cult Leaders" (NEXIS)

The Warsaw Voice. 28 November 1993. Juliusz Urbanowicz. "Ukraine's White Brotherhood: A Cult of Despair." (NEXIS)