fears among Evangelical Christians over a crackdown against them as they are seen by authorities as pro-Western and anti-Orthodox.
Hundreds of political opponents were detained and pro-democracy demonstrators, including Christians, pressured by police, church sources said. President Lukashenko made clear in his acceptation speech that he would maintain the policies that have come under sharp criticism from the European Union and the United States, which say last month’s election was not free or fair.
Lukashenko, described by the US as "Europe’s last dictator" took the oath of office during a Soviet style ceremony and promised to uphold the rights of his people during an unprecedented third term. His inauguration as president came as a setback for especially evangelical Christians, including 74-year-old Ernst Sabila, a pastor with the Belarusian Evangelical Church.
Police refused to allow him entry to the square where protestors had camped last month. "We gathered to celebrate our independence and the enemies of the people closed the square," added the pastor, whose church has long been at odds with Belarus’ Orthodox authorities.
Pastor Sabila demonstrated against a government that reportedly liquidated his church and ordered him to pay for this procedure. Sabila refused to pay the $60 in local currency on principal grounds saying, "As long as I live, I will not denounce my Christian faith."
POWERBASE THREATENED
Other church leaders have also reported actions against as authorities apparently fear that
growing evangelical congregations will undermine the president’s powerbase and his ties with the ‘official’ Orthodox Church of Belarus.
Russian Ministries, one of the largest evangelical mission groups in the former Soviet Union, said it has become "obvious to the Christian community that believers in Belarus are being persecuted for the cause of Christ."
Russian Ministries added that there is "is some sentiment that the Orthodox Church enjoys freedoms that other faiths do not." Last month, Baptist pastor Georgi Vyazovsky’s completed a 10 day jail term for holding "unauthorized religious services." Soon after religious freedom lawyer Sergei Shavtsov was jailed, BosNewsLife learned. Human rights activists said Shavtsov organized a Christian business leaders seminar which was raided by police.
BIBLICAL VIEW
His wife Dina Shavtsova told Forum 18 News Service that the seminar was "all about a Biblical view of history."
Dina Shavtsova said that her husband’s sentence – although on identical charges – is not directly connected with Pastor Vyazovsky’s, but stressed "the authorities are punishing the same kind of activity – unapproved religious events." Vitali Misevets, head of the Frunze district Ideology Department was quoted as saying "it’s not absurd" to deny permission for such a Christian meeting. "How do we know what 35 people were going to be discussing,?" the official reportedly said.
Fears have been expressed that Pentecostal Bishop Sergei Tsvor will be jailed on similar charges, said human rights watchdog Forum 18. Several other churches have also been denied permission to meet. Despite the apparent dangers, demonstrators have continued to demand freedom of expression. About 100 opposition activists did gather briefly on the square Friday evening, April 7, but they were quickly dispersed by police, news reports said.
"COLORED MALAISE"
51-year old Lukashenko made clear Saturday, April 8, that he would not allow "colored malaise" that the opposition and neighbors, such as the countries of the European Union, were seeking for the country. After the speech, the former state farm boss left the large hall filled with supporters, to watch a military parade. Foreign leaders were not attending the ceremony.
The EU and the US are in the process of imposing new sanctions against Lukashenko. These include a visa ban for 31 top officials, including the president, and possible seizure of economic assets held abroad. But Belarusian officials have brushed aside the actions "as meaningless," especially at a time when Russia supports the country. Moscow has said the outcome of the presidential ballot should be respected. (With BosNewsLife Research and reports from across the region).
