Belarusian authorities have refused to extend the visa of Father Zbigniew Grygorcewicz, a Polish priest, in an attempt to force him to leave the country, according to a December 24 report from Charter'97. Father Grygorcewicz, who ministers at the Borisov's Nativity of the Virgin Mary Roman Catholic parish, claims the refusal was related to his involvement in holding a Christian music concert in September. Authorities originally granted permission for the concert but then withdrew their support shortly before the event began. Grygorcewicz was reportedly told to be out of the country by January 1.
According to a December 23 report from Forum 18, four Catholic priests and three nuns (all from Poland) face a ban on religious work in Belarus as of January 1. These bans bring to 28 the number of foreign religious workers banned from working with local religious communities since 2004.
With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Belarus became an independent state in 1991. Despite independence, however, the nation has struggled to find its national identity. It has maintained closer ties with Russia than any other of the former republics of the USSR, including an agreement signed in 1999 for greater political and economic integration.
Many of the Soviet economic policies were maintained, hindering development and foreign investment, as well as Soviet policies toward religious freedom.
According to a December 23 report from Forum 18, four Catholic priests and three nuns (all from Poland) face a ban on religious work in Belarus as of January 1. These bans bring to 28 the number of foreign religious workers banned from working with local religious communities since 2004.
With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Belarus became an independent state in 1991. Despite independence, however, the nation has struggled to find its national identity. It has maintained closer ties with Russia than any other of the former republics of the USSR, including an agreement signed in 1999 for greater political and economic integration.
Many of the Soviet economic policies were maintained, hindering development and foreign investment, as well as Soviet policies toward religious freedom.
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