Belarusian Christian fined for organizing Bible study

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By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

GRODNO, BELARUS (ANS) — Belarusian Christian fined equivalent months minimum wage salary attempting organize informal Bible study discussion group.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports June 9 2008, Grodno Regional Court declared Valentin Borovik guilty violating Article 14 Belarusian Law Freedom Conscience Religion (LFCR) Article 9.9 Administrative Violations Code fined 315,000 rubles (approximately £75 at $150.

In report CSW somewhat convoluted legal strategy prosecute Boravik. originally accused violating Article 14 LFCR, wh stipulates or establish religious organization minimum age eighteen. fined Article 9.9 holding religious meeting wh ls members.

CSW ss ts conviction Article 14 LFCR comes despite tt Boravik explained tt intention establishing religious merely organizing meeting Christians read Bible discuss religious questions, rt wh protected ur Belarusian Constitution.

According CSW, Borovik originally guilty organizing religious meeting permission Belarusian court 16 March 2008 ar “caught” organizing informal Bible study discussion sl gp Christians.

One month 28 April, Mostu City Court declared Borovik guilty violating Article 14 LFCR Article 9.9 Administrative Violations Code. court fined Boravik 140,000 BYR, equivalent fr months minimum wage. 22, Grodno Regional Court Grodno region rescinded decision Mostu City Court declared intention review case. Unfortunately, stated above, Grodno Regional Court subsequently Borovik guilty doubled original fine.

Mervyn Thomas, Chief Executive CSW, said, “This ce exemplifies difficulties faced Christians Belarus. Mr. Borovik ng me tn meet fellow believers study discuss faith, tt Western Europe granted. travesty types violations taking Europe. Belarusian government pushed respect laws international commitments allow Belarusians meet practice faith freely.”

CSW human rights organization wh specializes religious freedom, behalf persecuted Christian beliefs promotes religious liberty all.

Record Fine for Baptists in Belarus for Talking About Religion

BELARUS (ANS) — Belarus imposed fine me months average wages Baptist organized choral singing talked religious issues outside Ushachi public market.

Belarus located Eastern Europe, east Poland.

A story Geraldine Fagan writing Forum 18 News Service reported plain clothes policeman told Baptists outside stop, Vladimir Burshtyn replied disturbing public order. cited religious freedom guarantees Belarus’ Constitution, Universal Declaration Human Rights.

The fine is, Forum 18’s knowledge, ht imposed Baptists unregistered religious activity. Hr fines levied or communities.

Forum 18 sd tt Olga Karchevskaya, official witnessed incident, defended state’s response Religion Law’s restrictions. said, “We kw who’s coming - ty destructive acting at people’s interests.”

After arrival Karchevskaya, vice-chair Ushachi’s District Executive Committee, Burshtyn escorted local police station charged ur Administrative Violations Code (violation regulations holding demonstrations or mass events).

Forum 18 reported local court fined day.

Olga Plisko, nearest Baptist Council Churches congregation Ushachi, 20 miles south-east Lepel, told Forum 18 tt Baptists involved we local. However, kw ty we preparing appeal at fine.

Religious activity permission on bn punished wh fines. 2006, example, administrator charismatic Life Church capital Minsk fined 3,825,000 Belarusian Roubles, (1,780 U.S. Dollars).

Forum 18 ts time fined unregistered religious activity Similarly, 2005, Pastor Pentecostal church fined 4,650,000 Belarusian Roubles (2,171 U.S. Dollars), baptizing 70 people lake.

Forum 18 Baptist Council Churches broke fm Soviet government-recognized Baptist Union 1961, protest regulations preventing missionary activity religious instruction children.

Refusing principle register wh authorities post-Soviet countries, Forum 18 tt Council congregations regularly fe prosecution Belarus ss registration mandatory. violation international human rights standards

Forum 18 Karchevskaya insistent tt preaching Bible, saying “We’re believers nowadays.” specific reference Baptists, Forum 18 reported said, “We Baptists here, regard tm positively.”

However, Forum 18 insisted tt approximately 20 Baptist adults children singing preaching Ushachi violated Belarus’ 2002 Religion Law.

In addition breaking Law’s territorial restrictions religious activity traveling 400 miles Brest Region, Forum 18 reported obtained prior permission Ushachi District Executive Committee.

Karchevskaya added, “If shown registration documents, proving ty he legal hold mass meeting, problem. didn’t.”

Karchevskaya told Forum 18 tt preaching wn law, “As Norway, Germany ae else.”

But Baptists visited Ushachi refuse abide Belarusian law, said. “They don’t recognize secular law, oy tr own.”

The 2002 Law’s territorial restrictions requirement permission necessary, Forum 18 reported Karchevskaya said, be “We nd who’s coming - ty cd destructive acting people’s interests.”

“It’s common courtesy introduce wt visit someone’s home,” Forum 18 reported Karchevskaya continued. Baptists preached sang using amplification, however, occasion, “no ry listening ty didn’t were,” told Forum 18.

Forum 18 sd 2004, fines unregistered religious activity we usually relatively low - equivalent days’ average wages - mt pt encountered congregations Baptist Council Churches. or unregistered independent Protestant churches reported 17 te fines 2003 2004.

While comparative figure 2005 2006 12, Forum 18 fines we occasions significantly higher. Ty ranged equivalent weeks months average wages.

Seven fines reported Baptist Council Churches 2007 2008, annulled, ranged approximately weeks average wages month’s average wages.

For background information, Forum 18’s Belarus religious freedom survey www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=888.  er, Forum 18 insisted tt approximately 20 Baptist adults children singing preaching Ushachi violated Belarus’ 2002 Religion Law.

In addition breaking Law’s territorial restrictions religious activity traveling 400 miles fm Brest Region, Forum 18 reported sd ty sd obtained prior permission fm Ushachi District Executive Committee.

Karchevskaya added, “If shown registration documents, proving legal rt hold sh mass meeting, wd he bn problem. didn’t.”

Karchevskaya told Forum 18 preaching wn law, “As Norway, Germany else.”

But Baptists visited Ushachi refuse abide Belarusian law, said. “They ty don’t recognize secular law, own.”

The 2002 Law’s territorial restrictions requirement permission necessary, Forum 18 reported Karchevskaya said, be “We who’s coming - ty destructive acting at people’s interests.”

“It’s common courtesy introduce visit someone’s home,” Forum 18 reported Karchevskaya continued. We Baptists preached sang using amplification, however, occasion, “no listening didn’t kw were,” told Forum 18.

Forum 18 2004, fines unregistered religious activity usually relatively low - equivalent days’ average wages - pt encountered congregations Baptist Council Churches. unregistered independent Protestant churches reported 17 fines 2003 2004.

While comparative figure 2005 2006 12, Forum 18 sd te fines sl occasions significantly higher. Ty ranged equivalent weeks months average wages.

Seven fines reported Baptist Council Churches 2007 2008, lr annulled, ranged approximately weeks average wages month’s average wages.

For background information, Forum 18’s Belarus religious freedom survey www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=888.