Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MINSK957
2006-09-01 10:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
PROTESTANTS THREATEN TO PROTEST FORCED SALE OF
how-toVZCZCXRO3363 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSK #0957 2441039 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 011039Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5033 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000957
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM ASEC BO
SUBJECT: PROTESTANTS THREATEN TO PROTEST FORCED SALE OF
CHURCH
REF: 05 MINSK 1167
Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Dereck Hogan for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000957
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM ASEC BO
SUBJECT: PROTESTANTS THREATEN TO PROTEST FORCED SALE OF
CHURCH
REF: 05 MINSK 1167
Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Dereck Hogan for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: On August 22, the GOB ruled that the New Life
Church must sell their church building to the local
government at a price far below market value and vacate the
property by September 1, although no action has been taken by
the authorities to date. Church leaders insist that the
GOB's decision is not legal and promise to refuse to hand
over the keys to the building. If the GOB threatens to
remove the church members by force, they will vacate the
premises and reassemble on Independence Square along with
other Protestant groups to protest the violation of their
religious freedoms. End summary.
GOB Forces Sale of Church at Below Market Value
-------------- --
2. (U) On August 22, the Minsk City Economic Court upheld its
July 21 ruling forcing the New Life Church to sell the
building it uses for worship. In 2002, the church purchased
a cow barn on the outskirts of Minsk and turned it into a
place of worship (reftel). Since the authorities claim the
existence of a church is not in accordance with city
development plans for this property, the GOB is forcing the
church to sell the building to the city executive committee
for USD 17,500. According to the church leaders, this price
does not take into account the renovations and is 35 times
lower than the actual value of the building. The GOB has
until September 1 to transfer the money to the New Life
Church, after which point the church community must vacate
the premises.
Church Pastor: We Won't Take This Laying Down
-------------- -
3. (C) On August 25 New Life Church Pastor Vyacheslav
Goncharenko and his lawyer Sergey Lukanin insisted to Poloff
that the GOB's ruling was not legal. However, Lukanin
believes that appealing is futile since it would not change
the GOB's decision.
4. (C) Goncharenko said the 1,000-member New Life community
plans to gather at the church building before the September 1
deadline and will only vacate the premises to avoid violence.
If the GOB threatens to use force, the congregation would
leave the building, but not give the keys to the authorities,
and would reassemble on Independence Square to protest the
forced removal. (Note: As of September 1, the authorities
have not taken any action against the church members. End
note.) Goncharenko noted the large support from fellow
Christians and claimed there would be a large presence on the
Square. Goncharenko told Poloff that the loss of their
building would not stop the Minsk New Life Church from
worshiping. Although it would violate Belarusian law, church
members would meet in small groups at members' homes.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) The year-long battle over the cow barn appears to have
resulted in a GOB victory; it is unlikely that the local
authorities would be swayed by a civic protest. However, if
the New Life Church community and other Protestant groups
follow through on their threat to protest, such action could
mark the beginning of a more politically active Protestant
community in Belarus.
Moore
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM ASEC BO
SUBJECT: PROTESTANTS THREATEN TO PROTEST FORCED SALE OF
CHURCH
REF: 05 MINSK 1167
Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Dereck Hogan for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: On August 22, the GOB ruled that the New Life
Church must sell their church building to the local
government at a price far below market value and vacate the
property by September 1, although no action has been taken by
the authorities to date. Church leaders insist that the
GOB's decision is not legal and promise to refuse to hand
over the keys to the building. If the GOB threatens to
remove the church members by force, they will vacate the
premises and reassemble on Independence Square along with
other Protestant groups to protest the violation of their
religious freedoms. End summary.
GOB Forces Sale of Church at Below Market Value
-------------- --
2. (U) On August 22, the Minsk City Economic Court upheld its
July 21 ruling forcing the New Life Church to sell the
building it uses for worship. In 2002, the church purchased
a cow barn on the outskirts of Minsk and turned it into a
place of worship (reftel). Since the authorities claim the
existence of a church is not in accordance with city
development plans for this property, the GOB is forcing the
church to sell the building to the city executive committee
for USD 17,500. According to the church leaders, this price
does not take into account the renovations and is 35 times
lower than the actual value of the building. The GOB has
until September 1 to transfer the money to the New Life
Church, after which point the church community must vacate
the premises.
Church Pastor: We Won't Take This Laying Down
-------------- -
3. (C) On August 25 New Life Church Pastor Vyacheslav
Goncharenko and his lawyer Sergey Lukanin insisted to Poloff
that the GOB's ruling was not legal. However, Lukanin
believes that appealing is futile since it would not change
the GOB's decision.
4. (C) Goncharenko said the 1,000-member New Life community
plans to gather at the church building before the September 1
deadline and will only vacate the premises to avoid violence.
If the GOB threatens to use force, the congregation would
leave the building, but not give the keys to the authorities,
and would reassemble on Independence Square to protest the
forced removal. (Note: As of September 1, the authorities
have not taken any action against the church members. End
note.) Goncharenko noted the large support from fellow
Christians and claimed there would be a large presence on the
Square. Goncharenko told Poloff that the loss of their
building would not stop the Minsk New Life Church from
worshiping. Although it would violate Belarusian law, church
members would meet in small groups at members' homes.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) The year-long battle over the cow barn appears to have
resulted in a GOB victory; it is unlikely that the local
authorities would be swayed by a civic protest. However, if
the New Life Church community and other Protestant groups
follow through on their threat to protest, such action could
mark the beginning of a more politically active Protestant
community in Belarus.
Moore