<p>A Russian court on Wednesday ordered two months of pre-trial detention for a Siberian cult leader claiming to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ as he faces charges of harming followers.</p>.<p>Sergei Torop, a long-haired former traffic policeman, has led a sect called The Church of the Last Testament for almost 30 years since proclaiming himself the Son of God following what he says was a revelation.</p>.<p>Torop and two of his followers, who also call him Vissarion, must stay in prison until November 22 awaiting trial, a court in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk ruled.</p>.<p>Russian special forces flew by helicopter to his remote settlement in the Krasnoyarsk region on Tuesday and detained him and his top aides.</p>.<p>The Investigative Committee said it was planning to charge the cult leaders with organising an illegal religious organisation and causing "two or more people severe harm."</p>.<p>Investigators said the cult leaders manipulated followers into giving money and submitted them to "mental abuse" that seriously damaged their health.</p>.<p>The Novosibirsk Central District Court said in a statement on Wednesday that Torop and two others had been charged.</p>.<p>Attending court on Tuesday, Torop told journalists he rejected the charges against him, his spokesman and the head of a school for followers' children, describing them as "unbelievable," the TASS state news agency reported.</p>.<p>The men's lawyers said they would appeal the pre-trial detention ruling.</p>.<p>The case has generated massive interest in Russia, with the news media calling him the "Jesus of Siberia" or "Siberian Christ."</p>
<p>A Russian court on Wednesday ordered two months of pre-trial detention for a Siberian cult leader claiming to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ as he faces charges of harming followers.</p>.<p>Sergei Torop, a long-haired former traffic policeman, has led a sect called The Church of the Last Testament for almost 30 years since proclaiming himself the Son of God following what he says was a revelation.</p>.<p>Torop and two of his followers, who also call him Vissarion, must stay in prison until November 22 awaiting trial, a court in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk ruled.</p>.<p>Russian special forces flew by helicopter to his remote settlement in the Krasnoyarsk region on Tuesday and detained him and his top aides.</p>.<p>The Investigative Committee said it was planning to charge the cult leaders with organising an illegal religious organisation and causing "two or more people severe harm."</p>.<p>Investigators said the cult leaders manipulated followers into giving money and submitted them to "mental abuse" that seriously damaged their health.</p>.<p>The Novosibirsk Central District Court said in a statement on Wednesday that Torop and two others had been charged.</p>.<p>Attending court on Tuesday, Torop told journalists he rejected the charges against him, his spokesman and the head of a school for followers' children, describing them as "unbelievable," the TASS state news agency reported.</p>.<p>The men's lawyers said they would appeal the pre-trial detention ruling.</p>.<p>The case has generated massive interest in Russia, with the news media calling him the "Jesus of Siberia" or "Siberian Christ."</p>