Catholic priest fined in absentia for distributing “extremist materials”

May 15, BPN. The Pastavy District Court in the Viciebsk region has fined in absentia Andrzej Bulczak, a former local Catholic priest and Polish national, 960 rubles ($384 in equivalent). Bulczak was forced to leave Belarus earlier because of the pending trial on extremism charges, Chryscijanskaja Vizija Telegram channel reported.

Bulczak received a summons to the court via Viber on administrative charges. He said he would pay the fine, “but to Ukraine.”

His first trial was scheduled for March 25 over a YouTube video which tells in Polish that Belarusians oppose the war in Ukraine. The video featured white-red-white flags as well as a picture from the protests with a Belsat TV channel logo that Belarusian authorities deem extremist. This trial did not take place, because the case files were sent back for revision.

On May 12, Andrej Keŭlič, rector of the Catholic parish in Bialyničy, Mahilioŭ region, was fined 640 rubles ($256 in equivalent) for disseminating “extremist materials.” On April 28, Ihar Lašuk, rector of St. Casimir parish in Stoŭbcy, Minsk region, was fined 960 rubles ($384 in equivalent) under similar charges.

On April 4, Aliaksandr Baran, rector of the Roman Catholic parish of St. Andrew the Apostle in Lyntupy, Viciebsk region, was sentenced to 10 days in jail for unauthorized picketing and distribution of “extremist materials.” Picketing charges were brought against him for posting a picture with the Ukrainian flag and a white-red-white flag in his social media account.