Source: www.forum18.org
Date: May 4, 2026
https://www.forum18.org/archiv
By Felix Corley, Forum 18
The regime's senior religious affairs official, the Plenipotentiary for
Religious and Ethnic Affairs in Minsk, Aleksandr Rumak, has refused
permission for three more Polish Catholic priests to continue their service
in the country. The three – all serving in the northern Vitebsk Diocese
– must leave Belarus by later in May. This brings to five the number of
foreign citizens – all of them Catholic priests – known to have been
forced to halt their ministry in Belarus so far in 2026.
One of the three priests - 63-year-old Fr Zenon Szcząchor – has been
serving in Belarus since 1990. Fr Stanisław Mrzygłód, priest of the
parish of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Braslav, and Fr Waldemar
Kujawa are also being forced to leave (see below).
Forum 18 asked Deputy Plenipotentiary for Religious and Ethnic Affairs
Sergei Gerasimenya why Rumak had refused permission for the three Polish
priests to continue serving in Vitebsk Diocese. "I won't give comments," he
told Forum 18 and put the phone down (see below).
Asked about the refusal for permission for the three priests to continue
serving in the diocese, Chief Specialist of the Ideology and Youth
Department of Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Ivan Zdesev put the
phone down. Forum 18's subsequent calls went unanswered (see below).
"Certain signs" exist that Plenipotentiary Rumak might also refuse
permission to continue service to several Polish priests in the
Minsk-Mogilev Catholic Archdiocese, independent Catholic news outlet
Katolik.life noted (see below).
Fr Antony Bondarev, an Orthodox priest and missionary from Russia who was
serving in the Minsk Diocese of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, has been
banned from entering Belarus "for reasons that for me are not clear or
justified", he noted. He has been forced to leave his post at a Minsk
church, where he has served for more than two years. The circumstances
behind the refusal to allow Fr Bondarev back into Belarus remain unclear.
Orthodox clergy declined to respond to Forum 18's questions (see below).
The regime strictly controls the exercise by foreign citizens of their
freedom of religion and belief, and only religious headquarter bodies that
have state permission to exist can invite foreigners to work with them.
Plenipotentiary Rumak, alone decides whether the religious work by a
foreign citizen is "necessary", and can refuse permission without giving
any reason. When he grants such permission, it is for three months, six
months or one year (see below).
The regime has consistently tried to reduce the number of foreign citizens
the Plenipotentiary allows to work in registered religious organisations.
The Plenipotentiary has often rejected applications by leaders of religious
organisations for permission to bring in foreign citizens, including
applications by Orthodox and Catholic bishops (see below).
Meanwhile, 65-year-old detained Catholic priest Fr Anatol Parakhnevich has
suffered a heart attack in pre-trial detention. Arrested by masked, armed
men in March, he is apparently being held in Minsk at the KGB secret
police's Investigation Prison. He appears to be under investigation on
criminal charges of treason (see below).
The official who answered the phone at Minsk City and Region KGB initially
denied that it was its number. Asked for a contact number for the KGB
Investigation Prison, the official, who did not give his name, said the
prison does not have a telephone. Forum 18 gave him all Fr Parakhnevich's
details, the apparent charge of treason being investigated against him and
the report of his heart attack. Forum 18 asked for details of his current
situation. The official said his office would provide a response but could
not say when that would be (see below).
Forum 18 was unable to ask Deputy Plenipotentiary for Religious and Ethnic
Affairs Sergei Gerasimenya why Fr Parakhnevich is still being held, where
he is and what conditions he is in. Gerasimenya had already put the phone
down (see below).
Controls on foreigners
Only registered religious associations (headquarter bodies) are allowed to
invite foreign citizens for any public religious activity. If the state
grants such permission, it is only valid for the one specific religious
community for which the headquarter body has obtained it. Individual
religious communities are not themselves allowed to apply for such
permission.
Under regulations approved by a 2 July 2024 Council of Ministers Decree,
the Plenipotentiary for Religious and Ethnic Affairs (the regime's senior
religious affairs official) in Minsk gives or refuses permission for
foreign citizens to work for religious purposes (whether as a resident or
as a visitor).
Foreign citizens must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of Belarus' state
languages (Belarusian and Russian) in order to perform religious work. The
Plenipotentiary defines the period of permission (up to one year), can at
any time withdraw permission, and is not obliged to communicate the reasons
for a refusal.
The Plenipotentiary can consult the regional Executive Committee's [local
authority] Ideology Department in deciding whether or not to give
permission for a foreign religious worker to work.
The Plenipotentiary may refuse permission for a foreign religious worker to
conduct religious work without giving any reason. Such decisions are
entirely within the Plenipotentiary's power and are difficult for the
headquarter bodies which have invited them to challenge.
If the headquarter body's request is granted, the Plenipotentiary issues a
decision specifying in which single religious community the foreign citizen
can work, and the exact dates for which permission is given (usually three
months, six months, or a maximum of one year).
"Religious associations that have invited foreigners to Belarus to carry
out religious activities may send them only to religious organisations that
are part of their structure and specified in the decision of the
Plenipotentiary," the regulations note.
Legally-resident foreign citizens who are not religious workers are banned
from any active participation – as against passive attendance – in
religious communities. Two warnings within one year or the failure to end a
"violation" can lead to the stripping of a community's registration and so
permission to legally exist.
In 2017, the then head of the Catholic Church in Belarus, Archbishop
Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, called for the state to end the requirement
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
need permission to conduct any religious activity.
Permission suddenly withdrawn
Such permission granted to foreign citizens for religious work can be
suddenly withdrawn, without any reason being given.
Polish citizen Fr Jozef Geza had served as Catholic parish priest in the
western city of Grodno since 1997. In late 2022, Plenipotentiary Aleksandr
Rumak refused Fr Geza's bishop's request to extend permission for him to
continue to serve in the country. After his last Mass in Grodno's Holy
Redeemer Church on 27 December, Fr Geza left Belarus after 25 years'
service (https://www.forum18.org/archi
Andrei Aryayev of the Religious Department of the Office of the
Plenipotentiary for Religious and Ethnic Affairs refused to say why
Plenipotentiary Rumak had refused the bishop's request to extend Fr Geza's
right to conduct religious work. "Under the law of Belarus, the
Plenipotentiary has the right not to comment on such decisions," Aryayev
told Forum 18 in January 2023
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Aryayev too refused to comment on the decision.
Expulsions of invited foreign clergy stepping up?
Jesuit priest Fr Klemens Werth, who had been serving in Vitebsk Catholic
diocese, left Belarus in June 2024
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
he had arrived in Belarus in 2015. His initial permission to work in a
religious role finally ran out in November 2016. From then on, Fr Werth
could serve only in an administrative role in the diocese as the
Plenipotentiary's Office repeatedly refused the local bishop's requests for
Fr Werth to be allowed to work in a religious role.
"I have been here for almost nine years and don't want to leave," Fr Werth
told a farewell meeting of parishioners
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
always been grateful to you for your support, especially when you gathered
signatures and wrote letters to the Belarusian authorities requesting
permission for me to serve."
In early 2026, the regime's senior religious affairs official, the
Plenipotentiary Aleksandr Rumak, refused the request
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Dziemianko of Pinsk Catholic Diocese for two long-serving Polish priests to
continue to be allowed to conduct religious work in Belarus.
Fr Paweł Kruczek – who had served in Belarus for almost 20 years - and
Fr Adam Straczyński – who had served in Belarus for 11 years - left the
country in early March
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
"Your long-time pastor is leaving your parish against his will," Bishop
Dziemianko told the former parishioners in Brest Region both of Fr Kruczek
and Fr Straczyński on 6 March. "This is painful for all of us."
The forced departure of Fr Kruczek and Fr Straczyński "is a great disaster
for our diocese", the Pinsk Diocese's Vicar General Andrei Znoska noted on
7 March. He added that "believers from three districts at once have been
orphaned and left without pastoral care, and I don't know what to do next".
Andrei Aryayev of the Religious Department of the Office of the
Plenipotentiary for Religious and Ethnic Affairs refused absolutely to say
why Plenipotentiary Rumak had refused Bishop Dziemianko's requests to
extend the two priests' permission to work in Belarus. "I give no
comments," he told Forum 18 in March
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
down.
Irina Zakharevich, deputy head of the Ideology and Youth Chief Directorate
of Brest Regional Executive Committee (which has responsibility for
overseeing religion in the Region), similarly refused absolutely to comment
on the enforced departure of the two priests. "Why should I give answers to
your questions?" she told Forum 18 in March
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
questions should be directed to the Plenipotentiary's Office in Minsk.
Asked what she would say to local Catholics who have lost their
long-serving priests, Zakharevich again refused to respond. She also
refused to say if officials from her Directorate had met local Catholics to
hear any concerns.
Foreign clergy
The Belarusian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) (which has the largest
number of registered religious communities) and the Catholic Church (which
has the third largest number of registered religious communities) are the
communities most hit by such controls on foreigners invited to serve in the
country. Both have faced denials of permission to serve
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
serve).
The Plenipotentiary for Religious and Ethnic Affairs has also refused
Protestant and Catholic communities permission
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
individuals from abroad on short visits to take part in religious meetings.
In an address to a clergy meeting of Minsk Diocese of the Belarusian
Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, held in Minsk's Belarus hotel
on 20 December 2023, Plenipotentiary Aleksandr Rumak told the 239 assembled
priests (https://www.forum18.org/archi
Belarusian Orthodox Church had more foreign citizens working in religious
roles than any other religious community in Belarus.
Information on the Plenipotentiary's website, which appears to date from 1
January 2024, says that of the 3,725 clergy then working in the country,
127 were foreigners. Of these, 59 were Orthodox, 56 were Catholic, with the
remaining 12 unidentified.
Leaders of the Pentecostal Union (which has the second largest number of
registered religious communities) and the Baptist Union (which has the
fourth largest number of registered religious communities) separately told
Forum 18 in March 2026
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
or need foreign citizens permanently serving in Belarus.
The Pentecostal Union leader said they can apply for short-term visits by
foreign citizens, for example for conferences. The Union last did so four
years ago, he added.
The Baptist Union leader said they "regularly host guests from other
countries to participate in religious events". "We easily agree their
arrival and participation with the Plenipotentiary for Religious Affairs,"
he told Forum 18 in March 2026. He added that the Union was working on
getting agreement for invitations to foreign guests for the planned
Festival of Hope in Chizhovka Arena, a large stadium in Minsk, in mid-May.
Fear of expulsion
Fear of expulsion of priests already serving in the country is a strong
factor for the Catholic Church. In 2006 more than 125 of its then around
250 priests were foreign citizens. In 2020, about 80 of its approximately
500 priests were foreign citizens. In 2024, 56 of its priests were foreign
citizens.
Fr Yuri Yasevich, spokesperson for the Catholic Bishops' Conference,
estimates that approximately 20 foreign Catholic priests are now serving in
the country. "But that is just my guess," he told Forum 18 in March 2026.
Three long-serving priests from Vitebsk Diocese forced to leave
Plenipotentiary Aleksandr Rumak refused requests for permission for three
long-serving Polish priests to continue serving in parishes in the Vitebsk
Catholic diocese in northern Belarus, Christian Vision
(https://t.me/christianvision/
of religion or belief and other human rights, and independent Catholic news
outlet Katolik.life
(https://katolik.life/rus/news
noted on 2 May.
The three priests will be forced to leave Belarus in May.
(The regime has declared to be "extremist"
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
sites and logo of the Christian Vision group. The regime has similarly
listed Katolik.life's website and social media channels as "extremist"
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Fr Stanisław Mrzygłód, a 48-year-old priest of the Salvatorian order,
has been priest of the parish of the Nativity of the Mother of God in
Braslav.
Fr Zenon Szcząchor, a 63-year-old priest of the Salesian order, began
serving in Belarus in 1990. He worked in various parishes over 35 years. He
has most recently been assistant priest of the parish of the Nativity of
the Blessed Virgin Mary in Vidzy, Braslav District.
Fr Waldemar Kujawa, a 57-year-old priest of the Franciscan order, has been
assistant priest of the parish of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed
Virgin Mary in the village of Udelo, Glubokoye District.
At the same time, Plenipotentiary Rumak gave permission for several other
Polish priests to extend their service in Vitebsk Diocese.
"As far as believers know, the decision of the Plenipotentiary for
Religious and Ethnic Affairs was influenced by the position of the local
authorities in Vitebsk Region," Katolik.life noted.
Forum 18 asked Deputy Plenipotentiary for Religious and Ethnic Affairs
Sergei Gerasimenya why Rumak had refused permission for the three Polish
priests to continue serving in Vitebsk Diocese. "I won't give comments," he
told Forum 18 on 4 May and put the phone down.
Marina Novitskaya, head of the Ideology and Youth Department of Vitebsk
Regional Executive Committee, and the two deputy heads were out of the
office on 4 May. Officials referred Forum 18 to Chief Specialist Ivan
Zdesev. Asked about the refusal for permission for the three priests to
continue serving in the diocese, he put the phone down. Subsequent calls
went unanswered.
"Certain signs" exist that Plenipotentiary Rumak might also refuse
permission to continue service to several Polish priests in the
Minsk-Mogilev Catholic Archdiocese, Katolik.life noted.
Minsk-based Russian Orthodox priest denied entry to Belarus
Fr Antony Bondarev is an Orthodox priest and missionary from Russia who,
until recently, served in the Minsk Diocese of the Belarusian Orthodox
Church. He has been banned from entering Belarus and has been forced to
leave his post at a Minsk church, where he has served for more than two
years, Christian Vision noted on 25 April
(https://t.me/christianvision/
The circumstances behind the refusal to allow Fr Bondarev back into Belarus
remain unclear. Orthodox clergy declined to respond to Forum 18's
questions.
In 2023, Fr Bondarev was banned from missionary work in the Russian
Orthodox Church in Russia, after which he was made a supernumerary priest
(i.e. one not formally employed in a parish, cathedral, or other
institution), he writes on his website. He was then advised to find
"asylum" in Belarus.
In January 2024, with the blessing of the head of the Belarusian Orthodox
Church, Metropolitan Veniamin (Tupeko), he was appointed one of the
full-time priests at the Church of the Joy of All Who Sorrow Icon of the
Mother of God in the capital Minsk. In March 2024, he was appointed
spiritual director of the youth brotherhood named after the holy martyr
Vladimir Khirasko at the same church.
But, as Bondarev reported on his Telegram channel, he is now unable to come
to "Belorussia" (as he calls the country) and continue serving in the
church "for reasons that for me are not clear or justified".
Jailed Catholic priest suffers heart attack
Catholic priest Fr Anatol Yevgenyevich Parakhnevich (born in Belarus 16
June 1960) has suffered a heart attack in pre-trial detention, Katolik.life
noted on 25 April
(https://katolik.life/rus/news
citing information from local Catholics.
Fr Parakhnevich appears to be under investigation on charges of treason.
Criminal Code Article 356, Part 1 ("Treason") punishes: "The disclosure to
a foreign state, an international or foreign organisation or their
representatives of state secrets of the Republic of Belarus, as well as
information constituting state secrets of foreign states, international
organisations, inter-state entities, transferred to the Republic of Belarus
on the basis of international treaties of the Republic of Belarus or in
connection with its participation in these international organisations,
inter-state entities, or espionage, or going over to the side of the enemy
during a war or armed conflict, or other assistance to a foreign state, an
international or foreign organisation or their representatives in carrying
out activities aimed at causing harm to the national security of the
Republic of Belarus, intentionally committed by a citizen of the Republic
of Belarus (treason)." Punishment is a prison term of 7 to 15 years, with
or without a fine.
Another Catholic priest, Fr Henryk Okolotovich, was arrested in November
2023 and jailed in December 2024 for 11 years on treason charges. In
November 2025, Belarus' authoritarian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko pardoned
him (https://www.forum18.org/archi
jailed Catholic priest, Fr Andrei Yukhnevich. The two priests were freed
from labour camp and taken to the nunciature in the capital Minsk. They
were taken to the airport the same day and flown to Rome. They have not
been allowed to return to their former parishes.
The official who answered the phone on 4 May at Minsk City and Region KGB
initially denied that it was its number. Asked for a contact number for the
KGB Investigation Prison, the official, who did not give his name, said the
prison does not have a telephone. Forum 18 gave him all Fr Parakhnevich's
details, the apparent charge of treason being investigated against him and
the report of his heart attack. Forum 18 asked for details of his current
situation. The official said his office would provide a response but could
not say when that would be.
Forum 18 was unable to ask Deputy Plenipotentiary for Religious and Ethnic
Affairs Sergei Gerasimenya on 4 May 2026 why Fr Parakhnevich is still being
held, where he is and what conditions he is in. Gerasimenya had already put
the phone down.
On 16 March, masked security officers arrested Fr Parakhnevich
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Alkovichi in Vileika District of Minsk Region, where he has served for
nearly 20 years. They searched his home and the Visitation of the Blessed
Virgin Mary Church until the evening. The KGB secret police sealed Fr
Parakhnevich's home and took the church keys. Officials returned the keys
only a week later, meaning that Sunday Mass had to be cancelled on 22 March
as the parish had no access to the church.
Fr Parakhnevich has remained in custody since his 16 March arrest. This
includes the period of Holy Week running up to Easter (which Catholics
celebrated on 5 April). This is the holiest part of the year for
Christians. Some have speculated that he is being held at the KGB secret
police's Investigation Prison in Minsk.
Fr Yuri Yasevich, spokesperson for the Catholic Bishops' Conference, said
the Church has no information about Fr Parakhnevich's case. "We know he was
detained and his home was sealed, but we don't know where he is being held
or what any accusations against him might be," he told Forum 18 in April
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
The website of the Minsk-Mogilev Catholic Archdiocese has removed Fr
Parakhnevich as parish priest in Alkovichi from the list of parishes.
Another priest is now listed as parish administrator.
Officials refuse to say which state agency arrested Fr Parakhnevich, where
he has been held since his arrest and what any accusations against him are.
The Information Department of Minsk Region Police did not respond to Forum
18's written questions sent on 9 April
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
The duty officer at Vileika District Police would not answer any questions
about Fr Parakhnevich. "I can't provide any information," he told Forum 18
in April (https://www.forum18.org/archi
the phone down. (END)
More reports on freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Belarus
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
For background information, see Forum 18's Belarus religious freedom survey
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Forum 18's compilation of Organisation for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE) freedom of religion or belief commitments
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
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