Pentecostal churches in Belarus hit with large fines

MINSK, Belarus — New Life Pentecostal Church in Belarus’ capital Minsk had a massive fine imposed on it July 29 for alleged “environmental damage.”

Added to an earlier fine, the two fines and “compensation” total $89,300.

Sergei Lukanin, the church’s lawyer, said the church will pay neither fine, arguing that if there is any pollution at the site it dates from the time before the church owned the property.

He insisted that the church has kept the building and site in good order.

A city environmental official claimed in an official report on the church before the fines that grass growing for a children’s playground damaged the environment.

Meanwhile two small Pentecostal churches in villages near Minsk have been fined for using the properties they own for worship. Officials claim the properties are registered for domestic use and therefore worship is illegal.

The small congregations will struggle to pay these fines, a church member said.

“The fear is that officials could do this again — the mechanism is there,” the church member said.