News on the topic: freedom of conscience
11.02.2008 Protestant Priests Make Ultimatum to Lukashenka
The pastors of more than 40 Belarusian churches of the Association of Communities of Full Gospel Christians have applied to Aliaksandr Lukashenka.
07.02.2008 Hrodna Authorities Fear Inter-religious Conflicts
In 2007 the authorities of Hrodna oblast registered only one religious community of Baptist Christians. Several dozens of other religious communities have been denied registration for different reasons.
07.02.2008 Authorities Will Control Invitation of Foreign Priests
The Soviet of Ministers of Belarus approved a regulation on order of invitation of foreign citizens and stateless persons for religious activity in Belarus.
05.02.2008 Pressurization of Young Front Activist Alena Makarevich Continues
A week ago the activist of Minsk Young Front branch Alena Makarevich was summonsed to KGB. There she was proposed to stop her public and political activities and threatened with a criminal case otherwise.
01.02.2008 Prosecutor’s Office Threatens to Punish Protestant Bishop
Prosecutor’s office of Maskouski district of Minsk threatens Viachaslau Hancharenka, bishop of the Full Gospel Christian Community, New Life Church pastor, with criminal persecution for violation of instructions, passed on formal reasons.
30.01.2008 New Life Church protests
“At our general meeting we made a decision that we would not let anyone in until our demand is satisfied: to cancel the decision of Minsk city executive committee, which ruled to confiscate the land from us, -- pastor Hancharenka says, -- we decided not to let anyone in. This is our action of protest, the action of civic disobedience. We defined our position, and will not let anyone in, under any circumstances. They should solve their problems, instead of pressurizing us”.
12.11.2007 Electricity Turned off During Protestant Assembly
At the week-end a youth conference took place at the New Life Church in Minsk. It was attended by representatives of Belarusian Evangelic churches from all over the country. Minsk authorities tried to disrupt the event. On the second day of the conference representatives of electricity services and the administration of Maskouski district police department of Minsk came there.
09.11.2007 Why Mock at Participants of Halloween Celebration?
The youth activists Andrei Kim, Tatsiana Lashkarova, Yury Shalin and Valiantsin Sakalouski were arrested on 21 October for celebrating Halloween in Minsk. They were charged with ‘public moral’ offense.
30.10.2007 Protestants Pray “for Sins of Communism”
Penitence prayers “for sins of communism” were served in many protestant churches in Belarus 28-29 October, timed to the Day of commemoration of the ancestors.
05.10.2007 Protestant Pastor Accused of Holding Unauthorized Mass Actions
Christian Human Rights House learned that Homel authorities pressurized the community of the religious association of Full Evangel Christians Living Word and its pastor Zmitser Padlobka in particular.
24.09.2007 Authorities Continue Pressure on Protestant Believers
Zhodzina authorities prohibit the local community of Evangelical Christians to hold services.
13.09.2007 Monitoring of Violations of Christians’ Rights in January – July 2007 (Excerpts)
The monitoring contains only the most significant violations of Christians' rights by the Belarusian authorities.
28.08.2007 Homel Police Detain Participants of Meeting with Pastor Sabila
On 26 August in Homel several civil society activists were seized by the police at a meeting with the pastor of an outlawed Protestant church Ernest Sabila. The pastor of the Belarusian Evangelic Church came to the city to meet with members of the Frantsishak Skaryna Belarusian Language Society. Held at the city`s office of the United Civic Party, the meeting was attended by about 20 people.
01.08.2007 Minsk: Police Detain Activists of Campaign for Protection of Freedom of Conscience
On 27 July in Minsk the police detained Zmitser Butenka and Andrei Litsvinau, activists of the campaign for protection of freedom of conscience, members of Minsk church New Life of the Association of Christian Denominations of Full Evangel in the Republic of Belarus. According to the information given to BelaPAN by the church lawyer Siarhei Lukanin, the youngsters were heading for St. Symon and Alena church in Nezalezhnastsi Square, where there they intended to collect signatures for amendment of the law on religion. However, at about 4 p.m. near Minsk hotel they were detained by the police.
26.07.2007 Minsk Regional Court Confirms Deportation of Priest Jaroslaw Lukasik
The college board of Minsk regional court left in force the verdict of Miadzel district court for deportation of the Evangelic pastor of Ian the Precursor church Jaroslaw Lukasik.
