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Christian churches, social capital and the 2020 Belarusian uprising
This August marks a year since the large-scale protests had swept through Belarus following the fraudulent presidential election. With several protesters dead and the number of political prisoners in hundreds, Belarus is undergoing one of the most dramatic periods since it proclaimed independence in 1990. Despite the violence of the authorities, the persistence of the […]
Christians in the Struggle for Justice in Belarus
30 July 2021 Natallia Vasilevich spoke at the thematic session of the Extraordinary Virtual General Assembly (V-GA) of the World Student Christian Federation, which took place from 29-31 July. WSCF is the oldest ecumenical organisation in the world, and it had intense and warm relations with the Russian Orthodox Church: its first secretary general John […]
«The Incredible 2020s.» Natalia Vasilevich: «Belarusians have learned to become leaders»
Radio Svaboda asked 21 Belarusian intellectuals to share their vision and understanding of the events of 2020, to answer in a broad sense the question «What was it?». Today we bring to your attention the answers of political scientist and theologian Natalia Vasilevich SoundCloud When the Belarusian society experienced a political upsurge in the spring […]
Forum 18: BELARUS: «To put the church in its place»
As more human rights defenders are jailed, others protesting against election falsification and regime violence are also targeted. The Belarusian Orthodox Church has fired many priests including Archbishop Artemy of Grodno, who spoke of a «general purge» as «not all church figures support the existing regime». Among others targeted, Catholic priest Fr Vyacheslav Barok fled […]
Statement of the Christian Vision Group of Coordination Council Regarding the Persecution of the Centre for Environmental Solutions
23 July 2021 On Tuesday, 20 July 2021, the offices of several non-governmental organisations, including the Centre for Environmental Solutions, were searched. On Friday, 23 July, the Centre was added to the list of NGOs for forced dissolution by the state authorities. The Centre for Environmental Solutions was established to promote an environmentally-conscious lifestyle and […]
BELARUS: Political prisoners’ freedom of religion or belief restricted
The regime’s many political prisoners are frequently denied clergy visits and access to religious literature, against both Belarusian law and the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Mandela Rules). Arrested in March, Olga Zolotar repeatedly requested a visit from a Catholic priest, but the Investigative Committee refused. Finally, in June officials allowed […]
Statement of the Christian Vision Group of the Coordination Council Regarding the Ongoing Persecution of Priest Viachaslau Barok
7 July 2021 Fr Viachaslau Barok, a Roman Catholic priest, had to leave Belarus due to the renewed persecution by the security forces on 5 July 2021. The immediate reason was the launch of another administrative process under Article 24.23 of the Code of Administrative Offences; the prosecutor’s official warning; and the threat of confiscation […]
From Mum of Francišak to Holy Father Francesco
14 June 2021 Your Holiness, much-esteemed Pope Francis, I would not dare writing to you if not for the extreme circumstances my dear Belarus and my family have found themselves in. I am turning to you to tell the story of a little boy, Francišak, and his dad. We live in the Belarusian capital, Minsk. […]
Statement of the Christian Vision Group on the Forcible Dismissal of Archbishop Artemy from Governance of the Hrodna Diocese
9 June 2021 On 8 June 2021, the Synod of the Belarusian Orthodox Church decided to intercede with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod «for the retirement of Right Reverend Archbishop of Hrodna and Vaŭkavysk Artemy for health reasons.» At an emergency online meeting on 9 June 2021, […]
