May 15, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka told American evangelist Franklin Graham that he was proud of the peaceful coexistence of some 25 religious denominations in Belarus.
The Belarusian leader stressed his positive attitude toward Protestants, according to his press office.
“During Soviet times, when I was a [Communist] party committee secretary, half of the staff at the farm where I worked were Protestants,” he recalled. “I was interested in how Protestants differ from Orthodox Christians or Catholics. I visited the homes of our Protestants. I must say they are very kind and hardworking people.”
According to the unofficial Telegram channel linked to Łukašenka’s press office, the Belarusian leader asked the visitor to convey his best wishes to US President Donald Trump.
“You understand, without the US president it would be more difficult for us to establish our relations,” he was quoted as saying.
According to a state media report, Łukašenka also noted that the United States accounted for two-thirds of the humanitarian aid received by Belarus last year despite sanctions.
Franklin Graham, head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, established in 1950, is scheduled to stay in Belarus from May 14 to 16. He is expected to take part in the Protestant Festival of Hope scheduled at Čyžoŭka Arena on May 16 and 17.
Some observers speculate that US envoy John Coale may also visit Minsk during this period.
The Belarusian government persecuted 93 Christian religious leaders between the fall of 2020 and April 28, 2026, including 37 representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, 31 representatives of evangelical churches, 20 representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church and five representatives of the Greek Catholic Church, according to the Chryscijanskaja Vizija religious rights group.
