By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
MINSK/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) - Belarus observed Orthodox Christmas Day amid fears of a massive crackdown on primarily Protestant churches after the country’s autocratic President Alexander Lukashenko signed controversial legislation.
Under the new law, he approved last week, all denominations and other religious groups need to reapply for state registration, which authorities reserve the right to refuse.
Critics view it as the latest step in Lukashenko’s crackdown on dissent, which intensified after a disputed presidential election in 2020 gave the authoritarian leader a sixth term in office.
The government reportedly detained more than 35,000 protesters in protests against the perceived fraudulent vote, and rights groups said thousands were beaten in custody.
Many were forced to leave the country to escape prosecution.
Since 2022, involvement in unregistered organizations has become a criminal offense, punishable by up to two years in prison.
That also impacted one of the largest Pentecostal congregations in Belarus, which has appealed against plans by authorities to “liquidate” the church after they already destroyed its building, Worthy News reported earlier.
PRESSURE ON NEW LIFE
Under the new legislation, any activity conducted by Christians linked to New Life could lead to prosecution and imprisonment, as they must reapply for registration.
The New Life’s church building in Minsk was reduced to rubble after it was destroyed with a bulldozer, according to footage seen by Worthy News, but they continued to meet online and offline.
The June 20 destruction of the building was reportedly ordered by a construction company owned by the Minsk City Executive Committee, Worthy News learned.
A total of 3,417 faith groups were registered last year in Belarus, a mainly Orthodox nation country of 9.5 million, according to official data. About 80 percent are Orthodox Christians; nearly 14 percent are Catholics, primarily residing in western, northern, and central parts of the country.
However, about 2 percent belong to Protestant churches, including Pentecostal churches. As they are popular among young people, Protestant churches in Belarus will become the main target of the new law, predicted Reverend Zmitser Khvedaruk, a Protestant pastor.
He said, “Many Protestant churches in Belarus will face a tough choice — to either cease their activities or return to the dark Soviet times.” He recalled that when Belarus was part of the Soviet Union, “Protestant churches effectively worked underground and illegally gathered at people’s homes, with (believers) praying under the threat of criminal prosecution.”
During the 2020 anti-government protests, some Catholic and Protestant churches gave shelter and support to the demonstrators, raising anger among authorities.
SHUTTING DOWN GROUPS
The new law in Belarus, already a close ally of Russia, enables authorities to deny registration and to shut down any religious organization, including churches.
It stipulates that to be registered, a religious group or denomination needs to have at least one parish that operated in Belarus for at least 30 years.
All denominations and groups must reapply for registration within a year, a requirement that is expected to be difficult for New Life and other congregations.
The law also prohibits those accused of involvement with what authorities deem as “extremist or terrorist activities.” Security arguments have often been used in government crackdowns on churches and related groups in Belarus and other former Soviet nations, Worthy News documented.
The legislation also bans using “any symbols other than religious ones” in church services. It also outlaws any gatherings in churches other than for a service.
“The Belarusian authorities view the clergy as leaders of public opinion who influence large groups of people; therefore, they strive to take all denominations under tight, centralized control,” said Natallia Vasilevich, coordinator of the Christian Vision monitoring group. “The new law is repressive and doesn’t conform to international standards of freedom of conscience,” Vasilevich said in comments shared by The Associated Press news agency.
Christians and others fear that Lukashenko and his allies seek to tighten control over the entire public sphere ahead of parliamentary elections set for next month and a presidential election next year.