Charismatic church fights to keep building

MINSK, Belarus — Members of Minsk’s charismatic New Life Church have vowed to fight on to retain their building after the Higher Economic Court threw out their appeal against moves to seize it.

The state argues that the building is a cowshed and is not being used for its legal purpose, despite church attempts to have its use changed. As the court decision comes into force immediately, the Minsk authorities have the right to demand the building “at any moment,” church member and lawyer Sergei Lukanin said. He said the church has been “deceived,” as it only went to court after it was advised to do so by a senior presidential administration official.

Another official there, Lyudmila Vorovka, refused to discuss the court decision. “The court decides this (issue), not us,” she said.