Christian Church Leader Imprisoned Under Restrictive Religious Laws in Belarus

A prominent human rights activist has been arrested, tried and sentenced to ten days’ imprisonment for organising an “illegal religious activity” in Belarus, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) report.

|TOP|Sergey Shavtsov, who is also a lawyer, was detained by the country’s state security forces following taking responsibility for organising an inter-denominational conference gathering another American humanitarian aid worker.

Shavtsov represents most of the Protestant Church unions in Belarus, CSW reveal, and he also was the author of the 2002 “White Book” that documented violations of international law on religious freedom in Belarus.

On the final day of the conference, reports from Belarus tell that three policemen and one KGB agent entered the conference building and locked all the delegates inside for one hour.

Two pastors were then arrested as they were believed to be the conference organisers. However, all other delegates were released after their personal details had been recorded.

The arrested pastors were then taken to a police station for interrogation, but were later released after Shavtsov claimed sole responsibility for the conference.

|AD|Reports also tell that Shavtsov was taken almost immediately from the police station to the administrative court, where he was given a 20-minute summary trial and sentenced to 10 days’ imprisonment.

Church representatives in Belarus have also expressed their concerns that the state prosecutor had still not stated that the case was closed, therefore indicating that Shavtsov and the remainder of the delegates were still open to further prosecution.

Some even report that Shavtsov could be sentenced for up to two years’ imprisonment, and the other delegates up to six months’ imprisonment each also.

The conviction against Shavtsov comes following legislation coming into effect in Belarus in October 2002, which was later amended in November 2005, that severely restricts the extent that religious activities are allowed in the country, CSW report.

Shavtsov is the second person to be convicted under the legislation, the first being Pastor Georgi Vyazovsky of the Minsk-based Christ's Covenant Reformed Baptist Church, who was sentenced to 10 days’ imprisonment for conducting religious worship in his home on March 3.

The Chief Executive of CSW, Mervyn Thomas commented, “We are extremely concerned for Sergey and his family. It is a tragic irony that Sergey has been convicted under the very same legislation which he has been attempting to bring to the attention of the international community for many years.

“Christians in Belarus have not experienced imprisonment for exercising their right to meet together and worship since Soviet times and we are worried these arrests signal renewed hostility on the part of the government towards religious believers. CSW calls on the international community to continue to press for democratic reforms in Belarus and the respect of international human rights law.

“We also urge everyone with a voice to push for the immediate release of Sergey Shavtsov.”