Christians Political Prisoners in Belarus
Organisation"Christian Vision"
Belarusian inter-Christian association, created during peaceful protests of 2020.
Information about the «Christian Vision». Founding statement of the «Christian Vision» Working Group. The mission of the «Christian Vision».
Priests and ministers
Belarusian Orthodox Church
Siarhei Rezanovich
Born: 4.07.1968, Orthodox priest.
Imprisoned: PK-15, 213105 Mogilev, p/o Veino, Slavogorodskoe highway, 183
He was detained December 1, 2020 under Article 289 of the Criminal Code (Act of Terrorism), the “Avtukhovich case”. He was accused along with his wife, Liubou Rezanovich, and son, Pavel. Letters were not being delivered.
On October 17, 2022, the trial concluded. The Hrodno Regional Court (Judge Maksim Filatau) found Siarhei Rezanovich guilty under Part 2 of Article 285 of the Criminal Code (participation in a criminal organization), Part 1 of Article 14 and Part 2 of Article 357 of the Criminal Code (attempt to seize state powerby unconstitutional means), Part 1 of Article 13 and Part 2 of Article 295-3 of the Criminal Code (illegal actions with objects whose damaging effect is based on the use of combustible substances, committed by a group of persons) – and sentenced to 16 years of imprisonment in a high-security colony and a fine of 600 base units (19,200 rubles).
Roman Catholic Church
Henryk Okolotowicz
Roman Catholic priest, rector of the Church of St. Joseph in Valožyn, Minsk-Mahiliou Archdiocese. 64 years old.
Currently: SIZO No. 1 Novodvorsky s/s, 143/4, Pashkovichi village, Minsk district, Minsk region 223016.
He is 64 years old, in the spring of 2023 underwent gastric surgery due to an oncological disease, a heart attack, needs medical supervision and medication.
He was detained on November 17, 2023, the detention took place as part of a criminal case under Part 1 of Art. 356 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus “Treason against the state.” A search was conducted in the priest’s parental home in the village of Novaya Mysh (Baranovichi district). On December 30, 2024, the Minsk Regional Court sentenced Okolotovich to 11 years in a strict regime colony.
Andrzej Juchniewicz OMI
Roman Catholic priest of the Order of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, served in the diocesan sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima in Shumilino (Vitebsk region), and was the head of the coordination group of superiors and representatives of religious communities in Belarus. 44 years old.
In custody: SIZO-2, Vitebsk st. Gagarina 2, 210026
On May 8, 2024, he was detained after participating in a meeting of priests and consecrated persons of the Vitebsk diocese, which took place in his church. Along with him, a priest from his order, Pavel Lemekh OMI, was also detained. In addition, one of the parishioners was also detained. The detention took place after the meeting – the priest was stopped on the way.
The trial took place on May 10, 2024, the priests were tried via Skype and subjected to administrative arrest. Father Juchniewicz received 15 days. The decision was made by Judge Natalia Korablina of the Pervomaisky District Court of Vitebsk. The Oblate priest was charged with posting photos on Facebook with his image with a white-red-white flag and the flag of Ukraine. This served as the basis for bringing the cleric under Part 1 of Art. 24.23 of the Administrative Code (violation of the established procedure for picketing). After 15 days, the priest was never released. He was subjected to a second administrative arrest under Art. 19.11. (distribution of extremist materials). On June 25, 2024, he was recognized by human rights activists as a political prisoner. He has being tortured. In July he was placed from administrative arrest into custody. In November 2024 he was accused of: Engaging in lewd or lascivious acts by a person who has reached the age of eighteen, with a person known to be under the age of sixteen (Part 2 of Article 169 of the Criminal Code); Violent acts of a sexual nature (Part 2 of Article 167 of the Criminal Code); Sexual acts with a person under the age of 16 (Part 2 of Article 168 of the Criminal Code). The trial began on December 27, 2024.
Evangelical Churches
Mikalai Khila
Born: 17.10.1983. A preacher of Baptist Church “Good News” in Minsk, worked for EU delegation in Belarus.
Currently: SIZO-1, 223016, Navadvorski village council, 143/4, Paškovičy, Minsk district, Minsk region. On April 24, 2024, he was detained and placed in Akrescina. Later, he was taken into custody and placed in a detention center in Kaliadzichy. He was initially accused of insulting Lukashenko (Article 368 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus), and on December 31, 2024, he was sentenced to 4 years in a colony under articles of the Criminal Code for inciting hatred (Article 130) and causing harm to national security (Part 3 of Article 361).
Believers
Belarusian Orthodox Church
Andrei Selianinau
Orthodox Christian. Born: 1 October 1985.
Currently: Pre-trial detention center No. 1. 223016, Navadvorski selsavet, 143/4, v. Pashkovichy, Minsk rajon, Minsk voblast.
He was arrested together with his wife Hanna Kmit on 31 October 2024. They were charged under Article 342 of the Criminal Code (active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order).
Hanna Kmit
Orthodox Christian. Born: 28 March 1986.
Currently: Pre-trial detention center No. 1. 223016, Navadvorski selsavet, 143/4, v. Pashkovichy, Minsk rajon, Minsk voblast.
She was arrested together with her husband Andrei Selianinay on 31 October 2024. They were charged under Article 342 of the Criminal Code (active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order).
Daniel-Landsey Keita
Musician, Orthodox believer, sings in church choirs. A laureate of the first degree of the Republican competition for young vocalists named after Shalyapin. In 2018, he graduated from the Republican Music College with a degree in “Choral Conducting” and enrolled in the Belarusian State Academy of Music. Since 2019, he has been a singer in the “All Saints” choir of the All Saints parish in Minsk, which is led by the well-known pro-government priest Archpriest Fyodar Pouny. Before 2019, he was a singer at the Alexander Nevsky Church in Minsk.
He was detained in June 2024 in Grodno, as reported in a video published by law enforcement. Keita stated that he participated in the protests in 2020 and left negative comments directed at the authorities and law enforcement officers. The schedule of the Minsk District Court included information that the hearing of the criminal case under Part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code against the believer was supposed to begin on January 22.
Dzmitry Navazhylau
Orthodox believer, former director of the BelaPAN news agency. Born: 12 August 1972.
Currently: Penal colony No. 3. 211322, Viciebsk region, Vićba
Navazhylau was arested on August 18, 2021, after security officers searched his home and BelaPAN’s office in Minsk.
Navazhylau was detained for 72 hours under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (organization or preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or participation in them). After 10 days arrest, Navazhylau was transferred to pre-trial detention center No. 1 in Minsk.
In early September, Navazhylau was officially charged under Part 2 of Art. 243 of the Criminal Code (tax evasion entailing large-scale damage).
In November 2021, Navazhylau faced new charges 6 years of imprisonment in a general-security penal.
Yauhen Hlushkou
Musician, veterinarian, former church servant of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Pribitki, Gomel District. Born: 11 July 1990.
Currently: Penal colony No. 1. 211440, Navapolack, vulica Techničnaya 8.
He was detained in August 2022 and placed under custody. Contacts with Ukrainians and an old photo of the airfield in Ziabrauka, which is used by Russian troops for airstrikes against Ukraine, were found on his phone. The photo was taken with a drone, which became the reason for criminal prosecution under Part 1 of Article 356 (treason against the state). The case was considered in a closed session. The man was found guilty of treason against the state and of assisting extremist
He was charged for 9 years of imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony.
