RELIGIOUS MINORITIES REMAIN IMMOBILIZED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 000319 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM BO SUBJECT: RELIGIOUS MINORITIES REMAIN IMMOBILIZED Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) GOB tactics force some churches to break the law in order to practice their religion. Hare Krishna members face ongoing harassment for fulfilling religious duties. Even "traditional" religions face restrictions. In addition, limitations on religious activity severely hamper the growth of minority religions. However, relations between the Committee on Religious Affairs and the "Mormon" Church have recently begun to improve. End summary. GOB Tactics Force Churches to Break the Law -------------- ¶2. (C) During a recent meeting with Poloff, priest Andrey Ablomeyko stated that because the Greek Catholic Church (GCC) has no buildings of its own in Minsk, it shares worship space with the Roman Catholic Church. Roman Catholic priests share their personal offices with the high-level GCC priests, but the lack of space has forced the GCC to conduct most church business at two private residences. Ablomeyko stated that while the GOB is well aware of this technically illegal situation, thus far officials have chosen to ignore it. ¶3. (C) Citing health and sanitation problems, in November 2006 the GOB officially turned down the Hare Krishna Consciousness' (HKC) application to legally register the congregation at a rented office space in Minsk. In a meeting with Poloff, Sergey Malakhovskiy stated that the GOB realizes the leaders of the HKC Minsk congregation direct the regional congregations and speak on their behalf in official correspondence. Thus, as a crippling tactic, the GOB continues to deny the Minsk congregation official registration. The congregation continues to meet illegally but cannot lodge official complaints about GOB ill treatment due to their lack of registration. HKC Faces Ongoing Harassment For Fulfilling Religious Duty -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Since 2002 many traditional and obligatory HKC practices have become illegal. Malakhovskiy stated that continuing attempts to carry on such practices often bring swift GOB action. In Minsk, almost immediately after members begin distributing religious books or literature, police arrest them and confiscate materials. While less common than arrest, fines also occur. The last such occurrence took place in the Soviet district of Minsk in January, when 14 books were confiscated and the person distributing them was fined approximately USD 15. Malakhovskiy also said that HKC improvised food distribution centers must be moved every few months -- as soon as the GOB becomes aware of their location -- as health inspectors or police force them out of each new site. Additionally, HKC believers face arrest if they wear traditional religious dress outside or practice the religious custom of walking and singing outside as a group. Even "Traditional" Religions Face Some Restrictions -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Despite being recognized as a "traditional religion" in 2002, the GCC still has no legal place to worship. In the early 1990s the GOB promised to return a Greek Catholic church in central Minsk. In the mid-1990s the GCC agreed to relinquish its claim on that building in exchange for permission to purchase a plot of land somewhere else in Minsk and to construct a church there. However, two additional official GCC requests submitted since that time for permission to purchase land have not yet been approved. Limitations on Religious Activity Severely Hamper Growth -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) According to Yuriy Ustin, due to harassment stemming from the restrictive 2002 law on religion, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) -- otherwise known as the "Mormon" Church -- technically no longer has missionaries in Belarus, just "volunteers." The three registered branches in Belarus have only had approximately 10 baptisms in the last year, bringing total membership to around 500. Ablomeyko stated that the lack of their own churches in Minsk makes it difficult to estimate membership accurately, but he would guess that between its 13 parishes, the GCC has a combined membership of 3,000 to 7,000. Last year the two GCC MINSK 00000319 002 OF 002 parishes in Minsk only had a total of twenty baptisms, including children and adults. Currently, the HKC has approximately 1,000 members. Approximately five people have joined the HKC each year since the revised law on religion was passed. LDS Church Sees Positive Signs From Religion Committee -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) According to Ustin, since January the position of the GOB toward the LDS Church has improved somewhat. The Committee on Religious and Nationality Affairs (CRNA) now commonly grants religious visas to foreign LDS Church leaders. In March the CRNA also granted two American leaders permission to speak during church services. Additionally, the CRNA in Minsk has recently expressed a desire for the LDS Church to extend to them an invitation to attend one of the Church's "world conferences" held in Salt Lake City each April and October. Finally, the CRNA told Ustin that if a member of the LDS Church could be found who was officially living in Belarus prior to the Church's current official registration date, that date could be moved up and, thus, the Church could register as an "association" sooner than 2013. Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) The provisions on "non-traditional" religions contained in the 2002 Law on Religion have brought the activities and growth of minority religions to a near standstill. Based upon the experiences of the HKC, those religions that choose to bend or defy GOB laws will continue to face increased levels of harassment, confiscation and fines. The recent positive developments in the LDS Church's relations with the GOB suggest that strict adherence to GOB law may eventually be rewarded in small but (for the religions) significant ways. Moore