Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MINSK179
2007-03-01 12:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
RESOLUTION OF NEW LIFE CHURCH POSTPONED AGAIN
how-toVZCZCXRO1616 RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSK #0179 0601206 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 011206Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5705 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000179
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV KIRF BO
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION OF NEW LIFE CHURCH POSTPONED AGAIN
REF: A. 06 MINSK 1143
B. 06 MINSK 1119
C. 06 MINSK 1174
Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000179
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV KIRF BO
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION OF NEW LIFE CHURCH POSTPONED AGAIN
REF: A. 06 MINSK 1143
B. 06 MINSK 1119
C. 06 MINSK 1174
Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d).
1. (U) On February 26, members of the Protestant-based New
Life Church (NLC) began a week-long hunger strike following
another postponement of its appeal to overturn a lower
court's decision to strip the church of its property (ref A).
(Note: In October 2006, more than 100 NLC members went on
hunger strike for 23 days until Belarusian Supreme Economic
Court Chairman Viktor Kamenkov agreed to review the case (ref
B). End note.) On January 23, Judge Yelena Korotkevich of
the Supreme Economic Court postponed NLC's hearing because
Minsk city authorities failed to specify the documents that
religious communities must provide with their application for
building construction. On February 20, Korotkevich again
postponed proceedings, ostensibly because Minsk Executive
Committee representative Igor Kasperovich could not attend.
2. (C) On February 27, NLC Pastor Vyacheslav Goncharenko
told Poloff that NLC does not know the date of the next
hearing and attributed the delays to the judge's reticence
about issuing a final ruling. He explained that the regime
would regard a decision favorable to NLC as a concession to
all advocates of religious freedom and other opposition and
civil society activists. Although NLC does not expect a
judgment against the authorities, Goncharenko confirmed that
several NLC members are fasting as part of their prayers for
such a decision. Goncharenko observed that NLC continues to
receive significant moral support from Protestant, Catholic,
and Belarusian Orthodox churches and reiterated his thanks to
Ambassador for her support and visit to NLC (ref C).
Stewart
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV KIRF BO
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION OF NEW LIFE CHURCH POSTPONED AGAIN
REF: A. 06 MINSK 1143
B. 06 MINSK 1119
C. 06 MINSK 1174
Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d).
1. (U) On February 26, members of the Protestant-based New
Life Church (NLC) began a week-long hunger strike following
another postponement of its appeal to overturn a lower
court's decision to strip the church of its property (ref A).
(Note: In October 2006, more than 100 NLC members went on
hunger strike for 23 days until Belarusian Supreme Economic
Court Chairman Viktor Kamenkov agreed to review the case (ref
B). End note.) On January 23, Judge Yelena Korotkevich of
the Supreme Economic Court postponed NLC's hearing because
Minsk city authorities failed to specify the documents that
religious communities must provide with their application for
building construction. On February 20, Korotkevich again
postponed proceedings, ostensibly because Minsk Executive
Committee representative Igor Kasperovich could not attend.
2. (C) On February 27, NLC Pastor Vyacheslav Goncharenko
told Poloff that NLC does not know the date of the next
hearing and attributed the delays to the judge's reticence
about issuing a final ruling. He explained that the regime
would regard a decision favorable to NLC as a concession to
all advocates of religious freedom and other opposition and
civil society activists. Although NLC does not expect a
judgment against the authorities, Goncharenko confirmed that
several NLC members are fasting as part of their prayers for
such a decision. Goncharenko observed that NLC continues to
receive significant moral support from Protestant, Catholic,
and Belarusian Orthodox churches and reiterated his thanks to
Ambassador for her support and visit to NLC (ref C).
Stewart