Protestant pastor Hancharenka fined again

25.04.2008. Tags: religious persecution.

On April 25th Maskouski court judge Uladzimir Audzeyenka recognized pastor of the “New Life” Church Viachaslau Hancharenka guilty of violation of Article 9.10 of the Administrative Code (Violation of the legislation about elections, referenda, about recalling of citizens and implementation of the right of legislative initiative of citizens). The pastor was fined 40 basic units (about 700 US dollars).

On March 24th Viachaslau Hancharenka was summoned to Minsk prosecutor’s office where he had to give explanations in conjunction with the appeal to the Constitutional Court signed by over 50 thousand citizens. The prosecutor’s office accused the pastor of organizing signature collection for changing the law on religion, and drew up a report of administrative offence under Article 9.10 of the Administrative Code.

The trial was to start at 5 p.m. on April 24th, but the judge postponed the hearing to the next day.

Let us remind you, that similar reports for organization of signature collection were drawn up against lawyer of the “New Life” Church Siarhei Lukanin and leader of Belarusian Christian Democracy Paval Seviarynets. Seviarynets has already received a similar fine.

Earlier, on March 10th, maskouski court fined pastor Hancharenka 10 basic units for failure to fulfil prosecutor’s order, according to which the administration of the church was to allow representatives of 6 state bodies examine the church building. However, the believers made a decision to prohibit entrance in the building until the 2-year-long conflict about the building is solved.