Dmitry Ugay was giving a talk about the philosophy of yoga at a St Petersburg festival when cops bundled him away to protect the motherland from what they presumed to be a cult of dangerous yoga fanatics.

The 44-year old computer programmer was arrested and charged with allegedly conducting illegal missionary activity, which is an offence under the Yarovaya laws brought in last year.

Named after MP Irinia Yarovaya, the new legislation, approved by President Vladimir Putin, targets missionary activity, religious groups, and followers of what the government deems non-traditional religions.

Mr Ugay was lifted after he was accused by fellow festival-goer, Nail Nasibulin, of recruiting young people to join a “pseudo-Hindu organisation”.