Orthodox priest arrested in Minsk

September 1, BPN. Police arrested Orthodox priest Uładzisłaŭ Bahamolnikaŭ, 42, after breaking into his Minsk apartment on August 31, Chryścijanskaja Vizija reported.

He is currently held at the detention center on Akreścina Street in Minsk.

Bahamolnikaŭ was one of the priests who served the funeral mass for opposition activist Raman Bandarenka, who died while in police custody after being beaten by unknown men in 2020. The priest also went on a hunger strike in support of blogger Ihar Losik, imprisoned on politically-motivated charges.

Bahamolnikaŭ has a degree in theology and serves at the parish of the Minsk Epiphany Church, currently under construction. He is also in charge of a historical museum of the Belarusian Orthodox Church and is a member of the Minsk Diocesan Court.