Siberian Towns and Cities to Host Scientology Goodwill Tour

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers board the train at Yaroslavl, the westernmost city on the 9,288 km Trans-Siberian railroad.

A team of 20 Scientology Volunteer Ministers from the Church of Scientology of Moscow boarded the Trans-Siberian railway this week, signaling the official launch of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers Trans-Siberian Goodwill Tour.

Boris Fadeev, General Director of Moscow Government Sports Programs was the keynote speaker in their sendoff event, thanking the Volunteer Ministers for all the work they are doing. He also made a point of acknowledging the Church of Scientology of Moscow for their long-term assistance to United Nations programs for starving children. Quoting the chapter "Love and Help Children" from The Way to Happiness, a non-religious moral code written by L. Ron Hubbard, he thanked the tour for living up to that precept.

The Deputy Representative in Moscow for the Chita region of Russia expressed his gratitude to the tour for including his district in its itinerary, as residents in his area need effective help to combat serious drug and alcohol problems.

Mr. A.A. Ovechkin, Assistant to Duma Deputy Mr. Cherepkov, also thanked the volunteers for their commitment and Mr. V.G. Gabisov, Russian Ombudsman Advisor, acknowledged L. Ron Hubbard for creating the Scientology Volunteer Minister movement.

The well-attended event ended with a procession to the train station in Yaroslavl, located 250 km (155 miles) from Moscow. Dignitaries and friends gave an enthusiastic send-off to the 20 Volunteer Ministers boarding the Trans-Siberian Railway. The tour will travel to 15 towns and cities on the Trans-Siberian Railroad route over the next year, en route to Vladivostok on the Sea of Japan, some 9,000 km to the east.

Boris Fadeev, General Director or Moscow Government Sports Programs thanked the Scientology Volunteer Ministers for their dedication to helping the children of Russia.

The leader of the Trans-Siberian Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Team briefed the audience on the plans of the tour.