Dmitry Ugay, 44, was arrested after giving a talk about the philosophy of yoga at a festival in St Petersburg, The Independent reports.

The part-time yoga teacher, who also works as a computer programmer, was accused of spreading religious ideas in breach of regulations under the new “Yarovaya law”.

Mr Ugay told local media: “I did not name a single religious organisation in my speech, nor did I use a single religious book, and did not name a single religious figure apart from Christ and Buddha.”

Alexander Verkhovsky, head of the Moscow-based Sova Centre which monitors the exploitation of anti-terror measures, added: “What was he calling people to join? Yoga is in no way a religious group.”