Yoga experts beware... in Russia..

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Russian man arrested under anti-terror law after talking about philosophy of yoga

(Stock Photo)

A Russian yoga teacher has been arrested for "illegal missionary activity" under controversial new laws designed to combat terrorism. Dmitry Ugay is said to have fallen foul of the country’s anti-terror measures, dubbed a ‘Big Brother' law by Edward Snowden, while giving a talk about the philosophy of yoga at a St Petersburg festival. The computer programmer was arrested and charged with allegedly conducting illegal missionary activity, which is an offence under the so-called Yarovaya laws brought in last year.  Named after its author MP Irinia Yarovaya, the new legislation, signed off by President Vladimir Putin, includes restrictions on missionary activity, religious groups, and followers of what the government deems non-traditional religions. Mr Ugay’s arrest comes after he was accused by fellow festival-goer, Nail Nasibulin, of recruiting young people to join his “pseudo-Hindu organisation". The arrest has been met with concern in Russia, with critics calling the wording of the Yarovaya law open to interpretation. Alexander Verkhovsky, head of the Moscow-based Sova Centre which monitors the exploitation of anti-terror measures, said: “It’s entirely unsurprising that police officers on the ground cannot work it out. “Because the law exists, it is going to be implemented somehow. It cannot be implemented well because of the stupidity of the phrasing.”