Minsk authorities to confiscate church land

Minsk authorities to confiscate church land

MINSK, Belarus — City authorities in Minsk have told the embattled charismatic New Life church that the land it bought with its church building in 2002 is to be confiscated. The city claims the congregation is using the land on which the church stands “not in accordance with its designation.”

“Our members have paid 13,000 U.S. dollars in taxes on it — they can’t say that it’s not ours,” said Vasily Yurevich, New Life’s administrator. At an Aug. 30 meeting, church members decided to begin a round-the-clock prayer vigil, challenge the proposed confiscation in court and launch a campaign to keep their land.

The church has been denied re-registration by the authorities, a situation that, under Belarusian law and in defiance of international human rights agreements, renders all activity by the 600-strong congregation illegal.