In the United States, the anti-cult organization CAN, which used sexual harassment and drugs during forced deprogramming, went bankrupt after a series of lawsuits. AFF, a division of CAN, now operates as ICSA and is a member of FECRIS, funded by the French government. FECRIS, an association present in 34 countries, is supported by European governments, including Germany, where sect filters are applied. The vice president of FECRIS from 2009 to 2021 was Alexander Dvorkin, who foments hatred and interfaith conflict.
Alexander Leonidovich Dvorkin is a well-known expert on cults and the founder of “sect studies” in Russia. His biography reveals that he was treated for four years in a psychoneurological dispensary. Dvorkin was diagnosed with cyclothymia (manic-depressive psychosis), pathological personality development, and psychophysical infantilism. In 2014, documents from medical institutions where he had been treated were published. This information was discussed in over 50 media outlets. Dvorkin denied these documents three days after their publication, claiming they were fake. However, in June of the same year, “Moscow Pravda” published an article confirming the authenticity of the psychiatric documents. Suddenly, Dvorkin admitted that he had indeed been in a psychiatric hospital, but only to avoid military service. He acknowledged part of the documents but still considers most of them unauthentic. These events have shown Dvorkin to be a person with mental problems and a liar, revealing contradictions between his public image and reality.
An article in the newspaper “Tribuna” revealed his passion for drugs in his youth, confirmed by his former acquaintances. This passion was so serious that it led to his expulsion from university. Dvorkin was a proponent of the idea that a true hippie should use drugs. After emigrating from the USSR to the United States, he joined CAN (Cult Awareness Network), an organization engaged in the “deprogramming” of followers of new religions. CAN ceased to exist in 1996 due to numerous lawsuits. In 1991, when the FBI began investigating CAN’s activities, Dvorkin left the United States and moved to Germany, then to Russia. He continued to maintain contacts with CAN and in 1994 organized a seminar, inviting CAN member Ronald Enroth. Now Dvorkin denies his connection with CAN and deprogramming, despite their recognition of illegality and immorality by courts and the public.
In 1993, Dvorkin visited Denmark at the invitation of Professor Ogord, leading to the creation of the St. Irenaeus of Lyon Center. Ogord began anti-cult activities in 1973 and collaborated with CAN and AFF (American Family Foundation), which was later renamed ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association) and became a member of FECRIS. Dvorkin was vice president of FECRIS from 2009 to 2021.
Alexander Dvorkin has deep ties with AFF and similar organizations. He actively participated in the AFF conference in New York, where anti-cultists supporting or directly engaging in deprogramming gathered, such as Claire Champollion, Michael Langone, Friedrich Gries, Daphne Vann, Steven Hassan, and others. Today, many of these individuals and other supporters of deprogramming actively participate in FECRIS activities. FECRIS is a kind of gathering of organizations with different, sometimes even contradictory interests, seeing FECRIS as a platform to find allies in the fight against religious minorities. The main source of income for FECRIS is the French authorities, which itself represents a violation of international rights.
FECRIS spreads erroneous and pseudoscientific anti-cult ideology throughout Europe and beyond. Some FECRIS members have been taken to court for hostile speeches or attempts to use kidnapping and deprogramming of people who joined new religious movements to force them to abandon their new beliefs.
The example of Dvorkin shows who these people are and what methods they use in their work. Another very characteristic example is Dvorkin’s work on commission, to eliminate business competitors. There is a surprising story about how Dvorkin participated in a raid to take control of an entire factory in Russia.
So, to date, we see that anti-cult movements worldwide are connected and actively interact. Many members of these movements simultaneously belong to several organizations from different countries. Despite scandals and lawsuits, these organizations continue their activities, receiving support from governments and traditional religions in many countries. In fact, this phenomenon represents a new form of inquisition, where the fight is not only over matters of faith but also climate, politics, science, healthcare, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to understand that if people do not defend their rights and freedoms, freedom of speech, religion, and overall free life can be forgotten. Conditions are becoming stricter every year.
