was officially recognized in 1993. Slavic Vedism Slavic, Russian or Peterburgian Vedism, Neo-Vedism or simply Vedism are terms used to describe the contemporary indigenous development of Vedic forms of religion in Russia, Siberia, other Slavic countries, the Commonwealth of Independent States' members and generally all the post-Soviet states. Slavic Vedism involves the use of Vedic rituals and worship of ancient Vedic deities, distinguishing from other groups which have maintained a stronger bond with modern Indian Hinduism, although Krishnaite groups often identify themselves as "Vedic" too. Also some syncretic groups within the Slavic Native Faith ("Rodnovery") such as Peterburgian Vedism use the term "Vedism" and worship Vedic gods, but mainstream Rodnovery is characterised by its use of indigenous Slavic rituals and Slavic names for the gods. Demography According to the 2012 official census, Hinduism is practised by 140,000 people, or 0.1% of the total population. It constitutes 12% of the population in the Altai Republic, 5% in Samara Oblast, 4% in Khakassia, Kalmykia, Bryansk Oblast, Kamchatka, Kurgan Oblast, Tyumen Oblast and Chelyabinsk Oblast, 3% in Sverdlovsk Oblast, 2% to 3% in Yamalia, Krasnodar Krai, Stavropol Krai, Rostov Oblast and Sakhalin Oblast, and 0.1% to 0.2% in other federal subjects. In 2006, the Russian capital Moscow has an estimated 10,000 Hare Krishna devotees and at least 5,000 Indians, Sri Lankans, Nepalese, and Mauritians following Hindu denominations. The number of ISKCON followers in Russia is disputed. According to the Sanjeet Jha of the Association of Indians of Russia, Russia's Krishna population is estimated to be as high as 250,000, while Filatov of the Institute of Oriental Studies estimates Russia's Krishna population to be 15,000. According to Bhakti Vijnana Goswami, a Russian Iskcon guru, there were 50,000 active Hare Krishna devotees in Russia in 2011. Prominent Russian Hindus Indra Devi, Russian yoga teacher Yekaterina Lisina, Russian basketball player who competed for the Russian National Team at the 2008 Summer Olympics Sati Kazanova, Russian singer, fashion model, actress and TV personality See also Astrakhan Oblast Bhagavad Gita trial in Russia Hindu Council of Russia Hinduism by country Religion in Russia References Sources Kotin, I. U. Индийцы в России=Indians in Russia. — Саарбрюкен: LAP, 2011. — 97 p. External links Collection of Mysteries Monastery - Slavic Vedism