News on the topic: freedom of conscience
23.02.2024 UN experts concerned about new law on freedom of conscience and religious organisations in Belarus
UN experts* expressed grave concern about recent amendments to Belarusian legislation on freedom of conscience and the activities of religious organisations.
17.10.2023 How and why are priests being persecuted in Belarus?
Viasna reports the situation with the political persecution of religious figures.
31.08.2020 Chief of Belarusian Catholic church barred from entering country
Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Minsk and Mahilioŭ, has not been allowed to enter the country today despite holding a Belarus citizenship, catholic.by said.
08.04.2020 Belarus says no to Jehovah’s Witness’s extradition to Russia
The Prosecutor General’s Office of Belarus has refused to extradite a Jehovah’s Witnesses follower, Nikolai Makhalichev, to Russia. He was released from custody, human rights organization Human Constanta said on Facebook.
06.04.2020 Activists protest expected extradition of Jehovah’s Witness to Russia
Belarus should not extradite Nikolai Makhalichev, a Jehovah’s Witness detained in the town of Haradok, to Russia, where he is facing unfounded charges of “extremism” in Russia, and years in prison if convicted, Amnesty International said in an urgent appeal to Belarusian Prosecutor General.
25.01.2019 Viasna condemns violations of Jehovah’s Witnesses' rights in Russia
In a joint statement with 36 other human rights organizations, Viasna expresses concern for the deprivation of the right to freedom of religion or belief towards Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia and the persecution of the Community members.
02.09.2015 Hare Krishna preachers detained in Orša
This is not the first time Vaishnavs come to Orša. One can sometimes see them near the city market, where they sell their books under the guise of receiving donations from them.
21.08.2015 Homieĺ court fines pastor for illegal service
On August 20, Homieĺ’s Centraĺny District Court found Siarhei Nikalayenka, pastor of the Church “Transfiguration”, guilty of violating the rules of holding mass events (Part 2, Art. 23.34 of the Administrative Code). The priest was punished by a fine of 3.6 million for arranging a Sunday service on May 31, which was stopped by riot policemen.
10.08.2015 Believers feel indignant at Belarus’ entry ban for BAOC head
The parish council of Kiryl of Turaŭ of Turau protests against the ban on entering Belarus for the head of the Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.
30.07.2015 Homieĺ Prosecutor’s Office warns Protestant pastor
The Homieĺ City Prosecutor's Office has issued an official warning to Siarhei Nikalayenka, pastor of the Protestant community "Transfiguration".
06.07.2015 Homieĺ priest appeals penalty for worship
The pastor of the Church "Transfiguration" Siarhei Nikalayenka, who had been sentenced to a find of 20 basic units (3.6 mln rubles) by Judge of the Centraĺny District Court of Homieĺ Viktar Kazachok for holding a Sunday service, appealed the fine to the Homieĺ Regional Court.
26.06.2015 Homieĺ priests threatened with criminal charges under Article 193.1
The house of Siarhei Nikalayenka, pastor of the Homieĺ-based religious community “Church of God Transfiguration”, as well as the apartment of his deputy Aliaksandr Chuyeu, has been searched by police officers. The raid reportedly dealt with the preliminary investigation of the criminal case under Article 193.1 of the Criminal Code (activities on behalf of unregistered organization).
19.06.2015 Krishnaites detained in Viciebsk
Several followers of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness ended up in the police department for spreading religious literature in Viciebsk. Siarhei Fadzeyenkau, chief specialist of the Department for Religious and Ethnic Affairs of the Viciebsk Regional Executive Committee, was directly involved in the detention of believers.
19.06.2015 Pastor in Homieĺ fined 3.6 mln
The Court of Homieĺ’s Centralny district heard today the charges brought against Siarhei Nikalayenka, pastor of a local Protestant Church “Transfiguration”. As a result, he was fined 20 basic units for arranging a service of the registered religious organization beyond the place of its registration.
11.06.2015 Homieĺ religious community to stand trial for “unauthorized mass event”
The administrative case against Homieĺ religious community "Church of God "Praabražennie" has been sent to court. The police charge the community under Article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, “violation of the order of holding mass events”. The pastor the parishioners can be fined up to 30 basic units or sentenced to arrest.
