Russia's security service said Tuesday it had raided over a dozen locations linked to the Church of Scientology in the latest step of a long-running battle between authorities and the U.S.-based organization.

Last November a Russian court banned the activities of the Moscow branch of the Church of Scientology after authorities argued in part that since it had registered its name as a U.S. trademark, it cannot call itself a religious organization.

Russia's justice ministry has long been pushing to prohibit the organization, which some countries treat as a legitimate faith but others consider to be a cult.

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