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Jehovah's Witness released in Belarus

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR ACQUITTED IN BELARUS
RFE/RLWatchdog, 31 May 2010

The central court in the Belarusian city of Homel has acquitted a Jehovah's Witness who had been charged with avoiding mandatory military service, RFE/RL's Belarus Service reports.

Dzmitry Smyk said that his belief did not allow him to bear arms. Judge Alena Tsalkova ruled that "Smyk's actions do not constitute a crime."

Smyk told RFE/RL after he left the courtroom a free man that he felt happy that justice had prevailed.

The Homel prosecutor has 10 days in which to file a motion against the court's decision.

Viktar Adzinochanka, who is a lecturer at Skaryna Religious University and a representative of the Christian Association in Belarus, told RFE/RL that the Belarusian authorities recently adopted a more realistic attitude toward Jehovah's Witnesses.

In Belarus, every male between the age of 18 and 27 has to serve in the army for two years.  (posted 3 June 2010)


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Orthodox study concludes Jehovah's Witnesses not a Christian religion

IN KEMEROVO ORTHODOX DIOCESE CONDUCTS EXPERT ANALYSIS OF BYLAWS OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES ON ORDER FROM GUVD
Religiia v svetskom obshchestve, 31 May 2010

In May the Informational and Apologetical Center of the Evangelism Department of the Kemerovo diocese, at the request of the director of the Denter for Combating Extremism of the State Administration of Internal Affairs [GUVD] for Kemerovo province, conducted an expert analysis of the bylaws of the local religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Staff members of the Evangelism Department came to the conclusion that "Jehovah's Witnesses" do not confess Christianity and they are not a Christian organization.

Staff members of the Evangelism Department came to the conclusion that "the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses does not have a religious character, does not have any biblical bases for their views, cannot be identified as any kind of Christian confession, and has all the hallmarks of a commercial cult. . . . The organization of Jehovah's Witnesses does not have clearly defined views, to say nothing of religious views, since in the time of its existence it has frequently changed its views and attitudes, adjusting to existing conditions. Its main goal in all these years has been to maximize the output of its publications and their steady distribution, which is characteristic for a commercial and not a religious organization."

We recall that GUVD for Kemerovo province and the Kemerovo diocese concluded an agreement on cooperation in 2007. (tr. by PDS, posted 1 June 2010)

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Jehovah's Witnesses target of police misconduct

TWO JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES HELD IN INVESTIGATION SOLITARY IN MOSCOW PROVINCE ON FABRICATED CHARGES
Portal-credo.ru, 31 May 2010

Two women believers who are Jehovah's Witnesses, who were arrested during evangelistic ministry in the city of Lobnya in Moscow province, are in an investigation cell on a charge of burglary of apartments. Despite all efforts on the part of attorneys and the religious society, they have not managed yet to get them released, the press service of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witness in Russia reports.

Maria Zubko and Anna Melkonian, from the local Jehovah's Witnesses congregation, were conversing on 7 May about religion with inhabitants of an apartment building when they were arrested by a squad of policemen. They were accused of committing crimes that had occurred earlier in Lobnya. Despite the duty to minimize the number of persons kept in detention, the women, who had no previous record of convictions and had a good reputation, are languishing in the prison cell on the basis of very doubtful evidence. Although they had established an alibi proving that the women had nothing to do with the crimes, their faces and family names were broadcast on television in a segment on crimes.

Believers view such actions as a means for discrediting and restricting the religion of the Jehovah's Witnesses. As the report of the press service says, one of the FSB officers in Rostov province declared in a personal conversation with a believer that he has an arsenal of means for eradicating Jehovah's Witnesses, including some he characterized as "illegal,"Ñ"finding" drugs or ammunition and even enlisting members of the criminal world.  It is noteworthy that in one city of Moscow province believers learned about a police raid that was being planned, and they observed a stranger who attended their worship service on that day. When he departed abruptly, the believers discovered that he left behind a package with a suspicious powder and they removed it through the fire escape. Several minutes later a task force entered the building and policemen with special zeal searched unsuccessfully for the place with the package was left.

Jehovah's Witnesses intend to devote every effort in order to get their fellow believers released and to spotlight intentional attempts to disparage their religion, the press service notes. (tr. by PDS, posted 1 June 2010)

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Ukrainian government signs agreement with Moscow patriarchal church

UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH AND UKRAINIAN MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS BEGIN COOPERATION
Institute for Religious Freedom, 21 May 2010

The Ukrainian Orthodox church and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine signed an agreement on cooperation. The document has the principal goal of widening the circle of questions which may be resolved jointly by the church and the MVD, the Institute for Religious Freedom reports.

The signing of the agreement occurred in the residence of the primate of UPTs in the Holy Dormition Kiev Caves lavra on 14 May during a meeting of Metropolitan Vladimir with Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Police General Major Anatoly Mogilev.

As the web-site of UPTs reports, the sides discussed the intended paths of cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ukrainian Orthodox church and they expressed hope for fruitfulness of their joint actions.

We recall that the Ukrainian Orthodox church, which is united with the Moscow patriarchate, has similar agreements with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Defense, and Ministry for Emergencies and Protection of the Population from the Consequences of the Chernobyl Catastrophe.  (tr. by PDS, posted 28 May 2010)

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Protestants sentenced in Uzbekistan

CHRISTIANS UPSET OVER ACTIONS OF UZBEKISTAN AUTHORITIES
Invictory.org, 26 May 2010

As a result of a raid on one of the largest churches in the country, the Tashkent City Church of Christ, on 16 May 2010, eight persons were arrested in Tashkent, including ministers and parishioners of the church. Subsequently the authorities of the country sentenced three Christians to fifteen days in prison and another five were required to pay fines of up to two thousand dollars, the Christian Megaportal invictory.org reports. According to information from the Barnabas Fund, Christians are deeply upset by the course of the investigation and the decision of the court and they cannot believe that such a thing is at all possible.

One of those present said:  "Everybody was simply shocked by the court's decision because the defendants proved their innocence and they also presented evidence of violations of judicial procedure."

The Christians composed an appeal to the president of Uzbekistan and to other state structures. There is serious basis for fearing that the true intention of the authorities is the closure of the church.

A woman Christian from the unregistered Tashkent church expressed to Barnabas Fund her shock from what she heard:  "If they do this kind of thing to the church of Christ, then what remains for us to expect?"

Christians constitute a significant minority by comparison with the overwhelming 90% Muslim population of the country. In recent years the number of cases of persecutions of protestant believers has risen sharply; police raids on churches, arrests and imprisonment, and enormous fines have become an ordinary phenomenon in the republic.

In October 2009 one of the ministers was fined and sentenced to prison for organizing a children's Christian camp. In February 2010, 13 members of a small church in Tashkent were fined and all their literature, including Bibles, was confiscated and destroyed. In March of the same year as a result of a raid by police during the celebration of a birthdays, ten women, who were members of a registered church, were sentenced to pay huge fines. In April in the south of Surkhandarin province, two Christians were sentenced to short prison terms for preaching the Gospel. On 10 April as a result of a police raid, all participants in a youth conference were taken to the police department where they were photographed and fingerprinted. On 12 April police conducted a raid on a church in Tashkent, which was distributing food to homeless folk.

"The Christians of Uzbekistan are some of the most steadfast in the world, because they are continuing their ministry and witness despite growing pressure and persecution. We in the Barnabas Fund have the honor of helping and strengthening them by various means," says the international director of Barnabas Fund, Dr. Patrik Sukhdeo.  (tr. by PDS, posted 28 May 2010)

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"Extremism" gambit used against Pentecostals

ROSTOV PROSECUTOR WARNS PENTECOSTALS ABOUT EXTREMIST ACTIVITY
Interfax-Religiia, 28 May 2010

The prosecutor of Rostov province warned the head of the Southern Diocesan Administration of the Russian Associated Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals), Eduard Deremov, about the impermissibility of conducting extremist activity.

The warning was issued on the basis of the results of a prosecutorial investigation during which information about possible violations in connection with the use of religious literature by representatives of the "Exodus" religious association was gathered, the press service of the regional prosecutor's office reports.

"The literature that was distributed contains sharp negative evaluations of confessions (Judaism and Islam) that express a hostile attitude toward them. One of the books contains overt and indirect expressions of a derogatory nature with respect to representatives of a separate confessional group (Free Masons)," the report states.

It was explained in the prosecutor's office that the use of such literature in the future will be evidence "of violation of legislation on combating extremist activity, which is impermissible." (tr. by PDS, posted 28 May 2010)

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Government officials demonstrate favor toward Orthodoxy

PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW THANKS RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES FOR OPEN DISPLAY OF THEIR FAITH
Interfax-Religiia, 27 May 2010

Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew highly values the cooperation of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin with the Russian Orthodox church.

"I express gratitude in the name of the Constantinople church as well as from myself personally to these two great Christian leaders. They are not at all hesitant to declare publicly their faith and piety," Patriarch Bartholomew said during a visit to the annex of the Antioch patriarchate in Moscow.

He noted that his visit to the Russian Orthodox church "has unfolded with great success and has been accomplished with the blessing of God," the site of the Department of External Church Relations reported.

"The evidence of this is that now we are experiencing a new stage in relations between the Russian and Constantinopolitan churches," the patriarch of Constantinople declared, emphasizing that he thinks that to a great extent this is the achievement "of such an energetic man" as Patriarch Kirill as well as of the head of OVTsS Metropolitan of Volokolamsk Ilarion.

"God be with you! With Russia, and with her people, and with her church!" Patriarch Bartholomew added. (tr. by PDS, posted 27 May 2010)


BELGOROD OFFICIALS SUPPORT ORTHODOXY
Portal-credo.ru, 27 May 2010

Significant events connected with the construction or restoration of churches of the Russian Orthodox church of the Moscow patriarchate (usually ceremonies of laying of cornerstones and consecrations) have frequently in recent years been occasions for public expressions by representatives of secular authority regarding the role of religion, Orthodoxy, and RPTsMP in the contemporary life of Russian society. Such speeches have been delivered during this current May by Belgorod provincial Governor Evgeny Savchenko and Briansk Mayor Sergei Smirnov.

As a "Portal-credo.ru" correspondent reports, in the village of Lomovo, Korochansk region, Belgorod province, the consecration of a church dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra, a saint revered in Russia, coincided with the day commemorating the translation of his relics. Governor Evgeny Savchenko attended the ceremony and greeted the villagers on the patronal feast day; he expressed the wish "that people live in fine homes, train their children in love, and that children honor their parents. That there be a genuine Orthodox life on the territory of every residential area of Belgorod province" (quote from "Bel.ru").

On 14 May in Proletariat Square of Bezhitsa region of Briansk Bishop Feofilakt consecrated a corner stone at the construction site of a new church. We recall that in pre-soviet times the provincial city of Briansk and the industrial settlement of Bezhitsa were independent residential areas.

Briansk Mayor Sergei Smirnov spoke of the obligations to the church ("We must pay our obligations; previously churches were demolished, now it is necessary to build") and declared: "We must stop building recreational facilities and return to the faith." The mayor's statements were reported by the "Nash Briansk" information agency.

In his turn, the head of Bezhitsa region of Briansk offered the suggestion "that this will be a place of rest and faith for people of Bezhitsa." (tr. by PDS, posted 27 May 2010)


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Dispute over "spiritual security" in Belgorod province

BELGOROD AUTHORITIES PUBLICLY DECLARE ERROR OF ORDER FORBIDDING "HEAVY METAL" MUSIC AS "SATANIC ACTIVITY"
Portal-credo.ru, 26 May 2010

The Press Service of the governor of Belgorod province, Evgeny Savchenko, distributed on 24 March on behalf of the mayor of Belgorod a statement for news media declaring that a letter from the head of the Administration of Consumers' Market, Vladimir Shatilo, which contained recommendations to restrict performances by musicians in the heavy rock ("heavy metal") style, was incorrect. This was reported by a "Portal-credo.ru" correspondent.

The letter in question, addressed to owners of cafes, restaurants, and clubs of the city over the signature of V. Shatilo, referred to the program "On Ensuring Spiritual Security in Belgorod Province for 2010" and pointed to the necessity of "suppressing satanic activity."

The mayor's statement indicated that the bureaucrat who made claim "should acknowledge the mistake and withdraw the letter." The authorities also explained that the program for spiritual security, signed by Governor Evgeny Savchenko, includes the intention simply "to monitor attentively informal activities."

The next day the official Belgorod internet site "Bel.ru" displayed a report about an upcoming motorcycle festival in Shebekin district, a part of which includes performance of "heavy metal" music. In addition, 1500 bikers will stay at the Holy Trinity Kholkov monastery.

The source indicates that one of the organizers of the festival, Igor Larionov, has guaranteed that participants in the rally will observe discipline and there will be no aggressive music.

"Kommersant-Chernozemie" quotes the words of the leader of the Belgorod group "Tremor," Alexander Naumenko:  "After the outcry that accompanied the letter, one should not expect a different reaction. But this simply does not mean that bureaucrats have fathomed the essence of the issue and have understood their mistake. They have spoken out too confidently in public against 'satanic music' in numerous interviews."

We recall that while the Department of Education, Culture, and Youth Policy of Belgorod province, when there was general interest in Belgorod's "rock conflict," called journalists' attention to the regional plan for spiritual security, citing the necessity of careful attention to informal groups and of a more profound understanding of them, the Department for Relations with Religious Organizations of the provincial government supported Shatilo's initiative, citing the opinion of Professor Fedor Kondratiev, a member of the Serbsky Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, who pointed to the destructive influence of "heavy metal" music, and the negative opinion of parents towards this musical genre. (tr. by PDS, posted 26 May 2010)


BELGOROD PROVINCE WORKS OUT PLAN OF MEASURES "ON ENSURING SPIRITUAL SECURITY"
Religiia v svetskom obshchestve, 26 May 2010

On 28 March, the deputy governor of Belgorod province, Oleg Polukhin, approved a plan of measures On Ensuring Spiritual Security for 2010. The plan provides for the inclusion of a course, "Spiritual Security," in the curriculum of religious educational centers of the province and Sunday schools, the Belgorod regional Institute for Professional Development, and Belgorod seminaries, and study of this course with employees of structures for affairs of youth in municipal education and agencies of local administration.

It is intended to send the book "Spiritual Security and the Spiritual Health of the Individual, Family, and Society" by Andrei Khvyli-Olinter to provincial libraries and to conduct seminars on this book.

The plan also includes the following points:

--"Do not permit in educational, cultural, and other departmental institutions of cities and regions of the province the celebration of Valentine's Day and Halloween. Conduct explanatory activity in news media of the province regarding the particulars of these holidays that contradict traditional Russian culture."

--"Conduct meetings with youth on the subject 'Beware: Sects!' Develop and situate in higher educational institutions, secondary schools, and places of mass congregation of youth informational stands on this topic."

--"Develop measures for 2010 for prevention of the impermissible use for wellness, therapy, and rehabilitation of methods and resources of occultic, mystical, and religious origin (magic, shamanism, witchcraft, parapsychology, astrology, karma medicine, and methods of consciousness control of the individual, etc.) that cause psychological and physical harm to individual health."

--"Develop permanent measures for prevention of the penetration of occultic, mystical, pseudoreligious, and pseudoscientific associations (followers of Rerikh, Ivanov, Megre, the 'Anastasia' cult, et al.) into educational and cultural institutions of Belgorod province, as well as the implementation by them of their own general educational curricula and certification aimed at influencing the consciousness of the younger generation."

--"Implement a permanent system of monitoring and develop with the directors of news media a policy of prohibiting advertisements of the services of magicians, astrologers, witches, fortune tellers, psychics, soothsayers, clairvoyants, and other representatives of occultism and paganism."

At the same time, it is proposed to support the Orthodox magazine "Novyi kovcheg" ["New Ark"] and "antisectarian" programs and articles in the press.  (tr. by PDS, posted 26 May 2010)


SPIRITUALLY DANGEROUS ROCK
Prohibition of rock concerts in Belgorod province necessary for "suppression of satanic activity"
by Vsevolod Inyutin, Belgorod
Kommersant, 20 May 2010

The head of the Administration of Consumers' Market of the city government of Belgorod, Vladimir Shatilo, sent a request to owners of local clubs, cafes, and restaurants that they "not permit use of their premises" for conducting concerts "of heavy rock music in the 'heavy metal' style." The bureaucrat declares that the prohibition on rock concerts is included within the parameters of the program "For Ensuring Spiritual Security of Belgorod Province" that was developed by the governor of Belgorod province, Evgeny Savchenko, and it is necessary for "suppression of satanic activity." The regional administration notes that the document that was signed by Mr. Savchenko contains only a desire "to monitor attentively informal activities."

In his letter to the owners of enterprises, Vladimimr Shatilo cites the "execution of the order of Governor Evgeny Savchenko" and the plan of measures "For Ensuring Spiritual Security in Belgorod Province for 2010," and he asks the directors of local clubs, cafes, and restaurants not to provide premises for "conducting concerts of heavy rock music in the heavy metal genre." Mr. Shatilo requests that the recipients report "measures taken" to the department he directs.

"Kommersant" has confirmed the receipt of this document directly in several Belgorod clubs. Vladimir Shatilo does not hide his authorship. "We are simply fulfilling the orders that came from the provincial administration. I do not understand such music, but we were ordered to cooperate in the suppression of satanic activity," he explained.

"Approximately a month ago the administration worked out a plan for ensuring spiritual security in Belgorod province for 2010, but it does not contain a word about direct prohibitions on rock concerts or the like," Kommersant was told in the provincial Department of Education, Culture, and Youth Policy. "The document simply states that it is necessary to give attention to informal groups and to understand them more profoundly." However, the Department for Relations with Religious Organizations of the administration supported the initiative:  "We possess a publication by Professor Kondratiev from the Serbsky Institute who maintains that heavy metal has an ideologically destructive effect on people. The parents of those who go to such events will not forgive us for the expressions of people who have been drawn into satanic ideology."

Vladimir Shatilo's letter has already evoked a stormy reaction on the part of directors of clubs and musicians. The owner of the "In Rock" club, Oleg Proskokov, told Kommersant yesterday that he does not intend to heed the recommendations of the bureaucrats: "In the near future we intend to hold several rock concerts and a festival. And if some bureaucrat pokes his nose into our affairs to prevent itÑpow right in the kisser." Other participants in the market refused to comment on the situation with various excuses.

A leader of a local group, Tremor, Alexander Naumenko, suggested that the recommendations of Mr. Shatilo could be considered guides to action. "Orders of the authorities, especially when confirmed by the governor's word, will be fulfilled almost without exception," he thinks.

"It seems to me that such letters recall the worst aspects of the soviet system, when it was forbidden to play certain music in dance halls and close-dance," says a communist deputy of the Belgorod provincial duma, Sergei Demchenko. "If the kids want to listen to such music and they don't bother anybody with it, its useless to restrict them." (tr. by PDS, posted 26 May 2010)

Russian original posted on Portal-credo.ru site, 20 May 2010


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