The Anti-Putin's Shaman Spiritual Journey From Siberia

Alexander Gabyshev (Warrior Shaman Alexander Gabyshev/Facebook)

JAKARTA - A shaman from Siberia, named Alexander Gabyshev, has a special mission to rid Russia of demonic interference. But unfortunately the devil in question is Russian President Vladimir Putin, and he has to deal with the police.

Gabyshev's journey began in March 2019, with a trolley containing his belongings with him. He planned to head to Moscow, but was detained in September 2019 while on the shores of Lake Baikal in Siberia after making a third of the trip.

Gabyshev's remarks regarding Putin have caught public attention and sparked opposition protests and reports on pro-Kremlin television channels.

Quoted from The Guardian, Gabyshev's exorcism mission was based on his anger over the election process in Moscow which was considered flawed. During the six months of his journey, Gabyshev always attracted social media and attention. Not infrequently they asked Gabyshev to stop doing his traveling mission, because it was political.

"God told me to do it, nature told me to do it. Then Russia will be free," said Gabyshev, last September.

However, there were those who still defended Gabyshev's activities. This group of people also protects Gabyshev during the trip. After the group appeared, news broke out related to the group that Gabyshev created a sect.

A former supporter in an interview with a newspaper in Moscow said that some of the donations Gabyshev received was spent on Gabyshev's family and "a game of a pornographic nature".

Go back on a trip

After being briefly detained, Gabyshev was placed in a ward for patients with psychiatric disorders. Gabsvhey was finally released, on 9 December. He again intends to continue his delayed journey.

This time Gabyshev went on a trip with his two best friends and four dogs. He departed from his hometown, Yakutia. But again, on Tuesday 10 December, he was detained by police on the highway, according to information from human rights advocacy group Pravozashchita Otkrytki.

The rights group released a video footage of Gabyshev's arrest on a snow-covered road. In the video, you can see the large number of police and several police cars with lights on at the scene. Gabyshev is accused of making public statements for carrying out extremist activities, a crime punishable by up to three years in prison.

Alexei Pryanishnikov, coordinator of human rights group Pravozashchita Otkrytki, said he hoped the authorities would formally charge Gabyshev after the arrest. Pryanishnikov said that for the authorities the shaman's attempt to "overthrow" Putin was no joke.

"The government and law enforcement agencies take magic, witchcraft and sorcery seriously," Pryanishnikov said.

Although the Shaman has been detained, it is known that his supporters are continuing on their way to Moscow. They even posted a video showing the rest of the group traveling, carrying a flag with the slogan "The Shaman's Way: To restore Russia's freedom". "

The security guards arrested our leader ... (but) our goal is to continue this journey to secure his freedom, "said one of Gabyshev's associates, Viktor Yegorov.