Minsk Tsentralny Borough Court Warns Krishnaits

04.11.2004.

According to RFE/RL

Aliaksandr Karzow, one of the members of the Krishnait society, was accused in the fact that unauthorized liturgies were held in a private house. The Krishna believers think that this trial puts beginning to the liquidation of their organization.

For two days judge Aliaksey Bychko considered the administrative protocol that was composed by the police inspector of Tsentralny borough of Minsk Ihar Nestsiarovich. In this report the policeman stated he “saw several people sing songs and play religious instruments” (?)

The specialist of Minsk City Executive Committee Ala Martynava said that according to the new law on religion members of the Hinduist society have to have permission for liturgies in a private house. Warning is the minimal punishment that can be given for doing it without permission. The believer Siarhey Malakhowski thinks that the warning that was issued by the court is only the beginning of the process: “We understand that they want to wipe us out of the territory of Belarus as a new religious movement so that there are no rivals to the main religion, which is given “green light”. It is all made to the good of the monopoly of the Orthodox church, which has the monopoly on representation of God in Belarus – the country where the Orthodoxy has won”.

Members of the International Society of Krishna Conscience said to RFE/RL they would complain to the UN Committee on Human Rights.