New Life Church to pay Br260-million fine

The Natural Resources and Environment Committee obliged the persecuted church to pay the fine within two months.

Syarhei Lukanin, a New Life’s lawyer, told Radio Svaboda the Minsk Natural Resources and Environment Committee offered him to sign a protocol, under which the church must pay a Br260-million fine.

Lukanin refused to sign the document and was told in response that the case would be sent to court if the church didn’t pay the fine within two months.

Besides, the church must pay a fine for damaging natural resources.

We remind that in late December 2009, officers of the Natural Resources and Environment Committee came to the church building and said they had to obtain a soil sample. The church lawyer notes they obtained samples on the place designated for road traffic.

The church was said it had damaged environment on a sum of 260 million rubles referring to the fact that fuel had been found in the samples. According to Lukanin, besides a Br260-million fine, the church must pay another fine of 300 basic unites.

According to church goers, by such actions the city authorities make them stop struggling for their building.

“As the church goers lost al legal proceedings in struggle for their estate, riot militia can come at any moment and violently take away the church building,” Lukanin said.