Georgia Detains Christian Evangelist After Preaching To Muslims, Activists Say

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By BosNewsLife News Center Georgia-map-in-europeBAKU/TBILISI (BosNewsLife)-- Christian activists have urged prayers for a frail Christian evangelist from Azerbaijan who has been spending a year behind bars in neighboring Georgia on what his supporters say are "trumped up charges" of drugs possession. If convicted the man could face 14 years imprisonment, Christians said.

Iran Detains Azeri, Iranian Evangelicals

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By BosNewsLife Middle East Service imagesTEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Relatives and friends say three Azeri Christians and an Iranian Christian remain behind bars in Tehran, nearly a month after they were detained as part of a larger government-backed crackdown on evangelicals. Seperately, Iranian authorities released Amin Khaki from Ahvaz Prison, after he served part of a one-year sentence for "spreading Christianity" in this strict Islamic nation, supporters told BosNewsLife.

NEWS WATCH: Hungary Condemns Azerbaijan In Soldier Row; Armenia Talks Of War

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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife reporting from Budapest, Hungary BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- The Hungarian government on Monday, September 3, condemned a decision by Azerbaijan to immediately pardon and release an officer convicted of murder, after he was extradited from Hungary.

Azerbaijan Pastor Receives “Corrective Labor” Sentence

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By BosNewsLife Correspondents Stefan J. Bos and David Haggith nevtelenBAKU/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife) -- A well-known Baptist pastor in Azerbaijan was weighing his legal options Monday, February 23, after receiving a two-year "corrective labor" sentence for allegedly possessing an "illegal" weapon, trial observers said.

Religious Freedom Tightening in Former Soviet Republics (COLUMN)

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By Martin Roth, BosNewsLife Senior Columnist martyr MOSCOW, RUSSIA (BosNewsLife Columns)-- The 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union sparked hopes among Christians for a new era of religious freedom. Sadly, these dreams have been only partially realized. This has been confirmed in the 2016 Open Doors World Watch List of the 50 countries where Christians are most severely persecuted for their faith.

Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan Crackdown On Evangelical Churches

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By BosNewsLife News Center in Budapest BAKU/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Authorities in Azerbaijan continued preparations Tuesday, March 13, to close down an evangelical church in the first such reported incident since the former Soviet republic introduced harsh religious legislation in 2009, rights activists said.

Azerbaijan Demands Closure Protestant Church

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By Joseph DeCaro, BosNewsLife International Crrespondent BAKU/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)– A congregation of protestant Christians in the Azerbajani capital Baku potentially faced its last public Sunday worship service April 22, as authorities have threatened to "liquidate" the church, rights activists said.

Christians In Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan Face New Restrictions

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By BosNewsLife News Center in Budapest BUDAPEST/MOSCOW (BosNewsLife)-- Azerbaijan's president Ilham Aliev was to receive for signing the final version of controversial legislation "limiting freedom of religion" while Christians elsewhere in Central Asia faced similar restrictions Saturday, May 16, rights investigators and local believers said.

Police Seize Bibles Of Azerbaijan Evangelicals; Several Fined

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By BosNewsLife News Center in Budapest BUDAPEST/BAKU (BosNewsLife)-- Scores of Evangelical Christians in Azerbaijan were without Bibles Saturday, May 28, after security forces raided two churches in the seaside city of Sumgai where they also fined church members for unauthorized worship, Christians said.

NEWS WATCH: Armenia Cuts Ties With Hungary Over Soldier Row

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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife reporting from Budapest, Hungary BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- Armenia says it is cutting all ties with Hungary for allowing an Azerbaijani military officer who killed an Armenian colleague to return home, where he was immediately pardoned and freed by his country's president.