Religious Freedom Tightening in Former Soviet Republics (COLUMN)
By Martin Roth, BosNewsLife Senior Columnist
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.
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. Jailed Uzbek Pastor Faces Extradition From Kazakhstan
By BosNewsLife News Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos
ASTANA/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Kazakhstan has detained an Uzbek house church pastor who is wanted in his home country for "illegal" religious teaching and Christian literature distribution, according to local Christians and rights activists.
ASTANA/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Kazakhstan has detained an Uzbek house church pastor who is wanted in his home country for "illegal" religious teaching and Christian literature distribution, according to local Christians and rights activists. Christian Convert Faces 10 Years Imprisonment In Kazakhstan
By BosNewsLife News Center in Budapest with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos
ASTANA/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- A court in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan has begun hearing the case against a Kazakh Christian convert who could face a long prison term on charges of "inciting religious hatred". Yqylas Qabduaqasov, 54, an active member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, was brought to the courtroom in the capital Astana Friday, October 9, in handcuffs, reporters said.
ASTANA/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- A court in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan has begun hearing the case against a Kazakh Christian convert who could face a long prison term on charges of "inciting religious hatred". Yqylas Qabduaqasov, 54, an active member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, was brought to the courtroom in the capital Astana Friday, October 9, in handcuffs, reporters said. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan Crackdown On Evangelical Churches
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.
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. Christians Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Facing Crackdown
By BosNewsLife News Center in Budapest
BUDAPEST/ASTANA/BISHKEK (BosNewsLife)-- Devoted Christians in autocratically ruled Kazakhstan and neighboring Kyrgyzstan face church closures and state control over Christian materials amid a fresh crackdown by authorities on faith groups in the region, BosNewsLife learned Friday, December 14.
BUDAPEST/ASTANA/BISHKEK (BosNewsLife)-- Devoted Christians in autocratically ruled Kazakhstan and neighboring Kyrgyzstan face church closures and state control over Christian materials amid a fresh crackdown by authorities on faith groups in the region, BosNewsLife learned Friday, December 14.
Central Asian Republics Harass and Detain Devoted Christians
By BosNewsLife News Center in Budapest
ASHGABAT/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Devoted Christians in three Central Asian countries are harassed and detained by authorities in ways resembling the Soviet-era, activists and local believers suggested Friday, September 9.
ASHGABAT/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Devoted Christians in three Central Asian countries are harassed and detained by authorities in ways resembling the Soviet-era, activists and local believers suggested Friday, September 9. 
Exiled Kazakhstan Pastors Face Long Prison Terms
By BosNewsLife News Center with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos
BUDAPEST/ALMATY (BosNewsLife)-- Christian rights activists have urged prayers for three evangelical pastors who face...
Kazakhstan Threatens To Extradite Detained Uzbek Pastor
By BosNewsLife News Center in Budapest
BUDAPEST/ASTANA (BosNewsLife)– Kazakhstan has threatened to extradite a detained Protestant house church pastor to his native Uzbekistan where he faces up to 15 years imprisonment for "illegal" religious teaching and Christian literature distribution, BosNewsLife monitored Saturday, November 24.
BUDAPEST/ASTANA (BosNewsLife)– Kazakhstan has threatened to extradite a detained Protestant house church pastor to his native Uzbekistan where he faces up to 15 years imprisonment for "illegal" religious teaching and Christian literature distribution, BosNewsLife monitored Saturday, November 24. Evangelicals in Belarus and Kazakhstan Detained, Beaten, Fined
By BosNewsLife News Center in Budapest
ASTANA/MINSK/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Evangelical Christians in Belarus and Kazakhstan faced increased pressure Friday, October 21, to halt unauthorized worship services after pastors were fined and churches raided in the former Soviet republics.
ASTANA/MINSK/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Evangelical Christians in Belarus and Kazakhstan faced increased pressure Friday, October 21, to halt unauthorized worship services after pastors were fined and churches raided in the former Soviet republics.
NEWS WATCH: Kazakhstan President Re-election Expected Amid Uncertainty
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent
ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev was set to renew his 26-year grip on power in elections on a pledge to offer the multi-ethnic Central Asian state economic and social stability in return for what rights groups call "systematic suppression" of opposition and devoted Christians.
ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev was set to renew his 26-year grip on power in elections on a pledge to offer the multi-ethnic Central Asian state economic and social stability in return for what rights groups call "systematic suppression" of opposition and devoted Christians. 
