a town in northern Belarus near the Russian border overseeing construction of its Roman Catholic church and celebrating Mass daily for two decades before he fled the country as the Belarusian government cracked down on dissent FILE - Protesters hold a ribbon in a symbol of protest in front of the Sts Simon and Helena Catholic Church during a protest in Minsk About 100 people took refuge from police in the landmark known as the “Red Church” for the color of its bricks Authorities later said the church could not hold services FILE - Catholic faithful from Belarus and neighboring countries carry candles at a festival honoring an icon known as the Mother of God of Budslav in the Belarus village of Budslav some 150 kilometers (93 miles) north of Minsk Orthodox and Protestant alike — have been jailed silenced or forced into exile amid a crackdown by authorities following the disputed 2020 election that gave authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term FILE - Riot police block protesters in front of the Sts In a famous incident amid anti-government protests about 100 people took refuge from police inside the landmark known as the “Red Church” because of the color of its bricks protesters took refuge from riot police inside the landmark known as the “Red Church” for the color of its bricks Authorities later halted services at the church FILE - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl attend Christmas services in the Church of the Holy Prophet John the Baptist outside Minsk Lukashenko has signed into law a measure requiring all religious organizations in the country of 9.5 million to re-register with authorities or face being outlawed (Belarusian Presidential Press Service via AP FILE - An Orthodox priest blesses drivers of combine harvesters during in the village of Lenino some 60 kilometers ( 37,5 miles) southwest of Minsk Authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko who has ruled Belarus for nearly 30 years and describes himself as an “Orthodox atheist,” lashed out at dissident clergy during the 2020 protests accusing them of fueling the unrest that was sparked by his reelection in a vote that was widely seen at home and abroad as rigged He urged them to “do their jobs” and stay out of politics In this photo taken and released by the Viasna Human Rights Center bulldozers raze the Pentecostal New Life Church on the outskirts of Minsk founded in 2002 and housed in a converted cowshed had become one of Belarus’ most prominent venues for interfaith dialogue was repeatedly fined and detained after officials deemed the church’s social media platforms to carry “extremist” content FILE - Riot police block an entrance of Sts also known as the “Red Church” for the color of its bricks during an anti-government protest in Independence Square in Minsk Uladislau Zavalnyuk greets people as he walks around Sts Amid anti-government demonstrations in 2020 against the election that gave Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term about 100 people took refuge from police in the landmark “Red Church,” as it was known for the color of its bricks FILE - The sun rises above Orthodox Church and Catholic Church in the town of Novogrudok about 150 kilometers (93 miles) west of the capital of Minsk silenced or forced into exile for supporting protests of the 2020 election that gave authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term Viachaslau Barok was a familiar face in Rasony overseeing construction of its Roman Catholic church and celebrating Mass daily for two decades When security services raided his church in July 2021 a Human Rights Watch researcher for Europe and Central Asia said the law gives authorities “more tools and possibilities for repressions.” according to the Viasna human rights center “It’s clear that the number of priests subject to repression will grow (as the government tries) to force the church’s loyalty,” Barok told The Associated Press “The authorities want to demonstrate to the Vatican their unlimited power within Belarus.” The media-savvy priest had over 7,000 followers on YouTube before he was visited by security operatives who had a search warrant Thousands have fled Belarus since 2020 as police detained more than 35,000 people and Viasna said there are over 1,400 political prisoners While Orthodox Christians make up about 80% of the population just under 14% are Catholic and 2% are Protestants Catholic and Protestant clergy who supported the protests and sheltered demonstrators at their churches became targets of repression but even some Orthodox priests condemned the crackdown Authorities cited unpaid utility bills and the need for repairs after a minor fire that month even though its priests say there was little damage urging them to “do their jobs,” and not fuel unrest Catholic churches — they’re not for politics,” he said Ten Catholic priests were arrested last year a 70-year-old who is in solitary confinement despite a cancer diagnosis A report last year by Aid to the Church in Need a Catholic organization tracking persecution of the faithful named Belarus as the second-largest jailer of Catholic priests The crackdown also affected the Belarusian Orthodox Church which is subordinate to Moscow’s Patriarch Kirill was stripped of all church posts and forced to retire in 2021 for condemning the repression as well as attempts by Moscow and Minsk to use the church as a political tool invasion of Ukraine prompted further clerical splits after Lukashenko allowed Belarusian territory to be used to send troops into its neighbor Archpriest Georgy Roy and 24 Belarusian Orthodox priests alongside counterparts from Russia and elsewhere who presided at Hrodna’s main Orthodox cathedral and lectured at a prestigious seminary came under fire from church and secular leaders he fled the country with his wife and four children He now ministers to Belarusians in Vilnius and pledges allegiance to the Orthodox patriarch in Turkey Roy accused the Orthodox church in Russia and Belarus of legitimizing what he described as Moscow’s aggressive expansionist ideology “The name of Christ is called on to justify war adding that Russian Orthodox leaders “serve that ideology but I cannot reconcile myself to this horror and live in this sin.” He said Belarusian authorities openly seek to bring the clergy into line repeatedly summoning them for “preventive” political talks and having security services monitor sermons The government lists 3,417 registered religious communities and organizations in Belarus; membership in unregistered ones was made a criminal offense in 2022 which gives the government broad powers over religious denominations and groups requires them to reapply for state registration and says they must have had at least one parish operating for 30 years The law also bars anyone accused of what Minsk deems extremist or terrorist activity from heading a religious organization It prohibits any secular symbols at services or using churches for any purpose other than worship commissioner for Religious and Ethnic Affairs told the Belarusian Security Council in September that authorities must ensure “the spiritual security” of society as a way of “maintaining stability and calm in the country.” Analysts say the restrictions are part of a broader campaign to quash dissent ahead of parliamentary elections The United Nations sent a letter to the government objecting to the law saying it violates the country’s obligations to ensure religious freedom Marin told AP the law would allow authorities “to simply destroy” the remnants of civil society that “are not yet underground Zmitser Khvedaruk called the law “the most repressive in Europe,” expressing concern that his and other Protestant churches will be the main targets given their popularity among younger Belarusians He told AP that many Protestant churches already face a difficult choice — “either cease their activities or return to the dark Soviet times when Protestant churches in fact operated underground and gathered illegally in people’s homes (when) believers prayed under the threat of criminal prosecution.” authorities bulldozed the Pentecostal New Life Church on Minsk’s outskirts because they suspected its congregation supported the opposition was fined and detained after officials said its social media platforms carried “extremist” content Commission on International Religious Freedom last month condemned what it called Minsk’s repressive course urging President Joe Biden and Congress to “prioritize religious freedom” as it holds Belarus accountable “for its gross human rights violations.” Human rights campaigners say clergy and their flocks are under threat for raising funds and helping political prisoners Barok — the priest who fled to Poland — discovered that because authorities deem his social media posts to be “extremist,” anyone viewing or reposting them faces six years in jail “I dream of returning to my church in Rasony,” Barok said “But I can’t while the state arrests priests for carrying their cross and calling evil ‘evil.’” Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors